Travel safety comparison · Africa

Cape Verde vs Gambia: safety comparison

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Cape Verde vs Gambia: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.

· How Warnely scores risk →
Cape Verde sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Gambia (18 against 32), but the gap is small enough that the practical difference comes down to category-by-category detail rather than the headline. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where Cape Verde scores 1/5 against Gambia's 2/5. The US State Department currently carries a Level 1 advisory on Cape Verde and a Level 2 on Gambia. Women's-safety rating differs: Cape Verde is Generally Safe and Gambia is Exercise Caution. Drug law diverges sharply: Gambia carries a tier-severe regime against Cape Verde's more permissive framework.
🇨🇻Cape Verde 🇬🇲Gambia
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 18 / 100 32 / 100
Risk tier Very Safe Exercise Normal Caution
UK FCDO advisory No active advisory No active advisory
US State Department advisory Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution)
Global Peace Index rank n/a #55
Drug law Strict Severe (long sentences)
Women's safety rating Generally Safe Exercise Caution
LGBTQ+ legal status legal illegal
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency CVE GMD
Full guide

Is Cape Verde safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is Gambia safe to visit in 2026?

Cape Verde vs Gambia: common questions

Is Cape Verde or Gambia safer to visit?

Cape Verde has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 18/100 vs 32/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Cape Verde or Gambia safer for solo female travellers?

Cape Verde is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Gambia is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Cape Verde and Gambia?

Cape Verde: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Gambia: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State).

More comparisons

Gambia vs Senegal · Morocco (Western Sahara) vs Gambia · Cape Verde vs Senegal · Cape Verde vs Morocco (Western Sahara) · Cape Verde vs Sierra Leone · Gambia vs Sierra Leone · Gambia vs Guinea · Gambia vs Mali

Planning the trip? Check Cape Verde visa requirements and Gambia visa requirements.

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