Travel safety comparison · Middle East

Iraq vs Syria: safety comparison

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

· How Warnely scores risk →
Iraq sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Syria (81 against 90), 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 Iraq scores 4/5 against Syria's 5/5. UK FCDO advisories diverge between the two: Iraq carries avoid all but essential travel to parts of country;avoid all travel to parts of country and Syria carries avoid all travel to whole country.
🇮🇶Iraq 🇸🇾Syria
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 81 / 100 90 / 100
Risk tier Do Not Travel Do Not Travel
UK FCDO advisory avoid all but essential travel to parts of country; avoid all travel to parts of country avoid all travel to whole country
US State Department advisory Level 4 (Do Not Travel) Level 4 (Do Not Travel)
Global Peace Index rank #147 #157
Drug law Severe (long sentences) Severe (long sentences)
Women's safety rating Do Not Travel Do Not Travel
LGBTQ+ legal status illegal illegal
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency IQD SYP
Full guide

Is Iraq safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is Syria safe to visit in 2026?

Iraq vs Syria: common questions

Is Iraq or Syria safer to visit?

Iraq has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 81/100 vs 90/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Iraq or Syria safer for solo female travellers?

Iraq is rated Do Not Travel for women's safety; Syria is rated Do Not Travel. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Iraq and Syria?

Iraq: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country; avoid all travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 4 (Do Not Travel) (US State). Syria: avoid all travel to whole country (FCDO), Level 4 (Do Not Travel) (US State).

More comparisons

Syria vs Turkey · Jordan vs Syria · Israel vs Syria · Iraq vs Kuwait · Lebanon vs Syria · Iraq vs Jordan · Iraq vs Lebanon · Palestine vs Syria

Planning the trip? Check Iraq visa requirements and Syria visa requirements.

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