Travel safety comparison · Africa

Djibouti vs Ethiopia: safety comparison

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

· How Warnely scores risk →
Djibouti sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Ethiopia (54 against 64), 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 civil unrest, where Djibouti scores 2/5 against Ethiopia's 4/5. The US State Department currently carries a Level 2 advisory on Djibouti and a Level 3 on Ethiopia.
🇩🇯Djibouti 🇪🇹Ethiopia
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 54 / 100 64 / 100
Risk tier Exercise Increased Caution High Risk
UK FCDO advisory avoid all travel to parts of country avoid all but essential travel to parts of country; avoid all travel to parts of country
US State Department advisory Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) Level 3 (Reconsider Travel)
Global Peace Index rank #122 #138
Drug law Severe (long sentences) Severe (long sentences)
Women's safety rating Exercise Caution Exercise Caution
LGBTQ+ legal status legal illegal
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency DJF ETB
Full guide

Is Djibouti safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is Ethiopia safe to visit in 2026?

Djibouti vs Ethiopia: common questions

Is Djibouti or Ethiopia safer to visit?

Djibouti has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 54/100 vs 64/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Djibouti or Ethiopia safer for solo female travellers?

Djibouti is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; Ethiopia is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Djibouti and Ethiopia?

Djibouti: avoid all travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Ethiopia: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country; avoid all travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) (US State).

More comparisons

Eritrea vs Ethiopia · Ethiopia vs Somalia · Ethiopia vs South Sudan · Ethiopia vs Sudan · Djibouti vs Somalia · Djibouti vs Eritrea · Djibouti vs South Sudan

Planning the trip? Check Djibouti visa requirements and Ethiopia visa requirements.

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