Sri Lanka vs Maldives: safety comparison
Sri Lanka vs Maldives: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
| 🇱🇰Sri Lanka | 🇲🇻Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 36 / 100 | 26 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Increased Caution | Exercise Normal Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | No active advisory | No active advisory |
| US State Department advisory | Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) | Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #97 | n/a |
| Drug law | Severe (long sentences) | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Generally Safe | Generally Safe |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | illegal | illegal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | LKR | MVR |
Sri Lanka vs Maldives: common questions
Is Sri Lanka or Maldives safer to visit?
Maldives has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 26/100 vs 36/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Sri Lanka or Maldives safer for solo female travellers?
Sri Lanka is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Maldives is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Sri Lanka and Maldives?
Sri Lanka: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Maldives: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State).
More comparisons
India vs Sri Lanka · Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka · Sri Lanka vs Myanmar · India vs Maldives · Bangladesh vs Maldives · Maldives vs Nepal
Planning the trip? Check Sri Lanka visa requirements and Maldives visa requirements.