Travel safety comparison · Latin America & the Caribbean
Cuba vs Jamaica: safety comparison
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Cuba vs Jamaica: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
Cuba sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Jamaica (33 against 47), 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 Cuba scores 1/5 against Jamaica's 3/5. Drug law diverges sharply: Cuba carries a tier-severe regime against Jamaica's more permissive framework.
| 🇨🇺Cuba | 🇯🇲Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 33 / 100 | 47 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Normal Caution | Exercise Increased Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | No active advisory | No active advisory |
| US State Department advisory | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #102 | #93 |
| Drug law | Severe (long sentences) | decrim |
| Women's safety rating | Generally Safe | Generally Safe |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | marriage | illegal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | CUP | JMD |
Cuba vs Jamaica: common questions
Is Cuba or Jamaica safer to visit?
Cuba has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 33/100 vs 47/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Cuba or Jamaica safer for solo female travellers?
Cuba is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Jamaica is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Cuba and Jamaica?
Cuba: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Jamaica: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).