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.
Iraq sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Syria (73 against 86), 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.
| 🇮🇶Iraq | 🇸🇾Syria | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 73 / 100 | 86 / 100 |
| Risk tier | High Risk | Do Not Travel |
| 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 | #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 |
Iraq vs Syria: common questions
Is Iraq or Syria safer to visit?
Iraq has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 73/100 vs 86/100 (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: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Syria: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).