Travel safety comparison · Africa
Gambia vs Sierra Leone: safety comparison
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Gambia vs Sierra Leone: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
Gambia sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Sierra Leone (33 against 42), 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 Gambia scores 2/5 against Sierra Leone's 3/5.
| 🇬🇲Gambia | 🇸🇱Sierra Leone | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 33 / 100 | 42 / 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 | #55 | #57 |
| Drug law | Severe (long sentences) | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Exercise Caution | Exercise Caution |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | illegal | illegal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | GMD | SLE |
Gambia vs Sierra Leone: common questions
Is Gambia or Sierra Leone safer to visit?
Gambia has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 33/100 vs 42/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Gambia or Sierra Leone safer for solo female travellers?
Gambia is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; Sierra Leone is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Gambia and Sierra Leone?
Gambia: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Sierra Leone: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).