Laos vs Thailand: safety comparison
Laos vs Thailand: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
| 🇱🇦Laos | 🇹🇭Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 38 / 100 | 38 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Increased Caution | Exercise Increased Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | avoid all but essential travel to parts of country | avoid all but essential travel to parts of country |
| US State Department advisory | Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) | Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #47 | #86 |
| Drug law | Severe (long sentences) | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Generally Safe | Generally Safe |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | legal | marriage |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | LAK | THB |
Laos vs Thailand: common questions
Is Laos or Thailand safer to visit?
Laos has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 38/100 vs 38/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Laos or Thailand safer for solo female travellers?
Laos is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Thailand is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Laos and Thailand?
Laos: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Thailand: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State).
More comparisons
Cambodia vs Thailand · Thailand vs Vietnam · Myanmar vs Thailand · Laos vs Vietnam · Cambodia vs Laos · Laos vs Myanmar · Singapore vs Thailand · Laos vs Taiwan
Planning the trip? Check Laos visa requirements and Thailand visa requirements.