Cambodia vs Laos: safety comparison
Cambodia vs Laos: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
| 🇰🇭Cambodia | 🇱🇦Laos | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 42 / 100 | 38 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Increased Caution | Exercise Increased Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | avoid all but essential travel to parts of country | avoid all but essential travel to parts of country |
| US State Department advisory | Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) | Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #87 | #47 |
| Drug law | Severe (long sentences) | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Generally Safe | Generally Safe |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | legal | legal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | USD | LAK |
Cambodia vs Laos: common questions
Is Cambodia or Laos safer to visit?
Laos has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 38/100 vs 42/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Cambodia or Laos safer for solo female travellers?
Cambodia is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Laos is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Cambodia and Laos?
Cambodia: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Laos: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State).
More comparisons
Cambodia vs Thailand · Laos vs Thailand · Cambodia vs Vietnam · Laos vs Vietnam · Cambodia vs Malaysia · Laos vs Myanmar · Cambodia vs Singapore · Laos vs Taiwan
Planning the trip? Check Cambodia visa requirements and Laos visa requirements.