Travel safety comparison · Europe
Latvia vs Russia: safety comparison
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Latvia vs Russia: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
Latvia carries a materially lower safety risk than Russia on the composite Warnely score: 16/100 against 63/100, a gap of 47 points. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where Latvia scores 1/5 against Russia's 4/5. Drug law diverges sharply: Russia carries a tier-severe regime against Latvia's more permissive framework.
| 🇱🇻Latvia | 🇷🇺Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 16 / 100 | 63 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Very Safe | High Risk |
| 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 | #22 | #163 |
| Drug law | Strict | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Generally Safe | Generally Safe |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | partnership | illegal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | EUR | RUB |
Latvia vs Russia: common questions
Is Latvia or Russia safer to visit?
Latvia has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 16/100 vs 63/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Latvia or Russia safer for solo female travellers?
Latvia is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Russia is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Latvia and Russia?
Latvia: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Russia: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).