Travel safety comparison · Asia

Sri Lanka vs Myanmar: safety comparison

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

· How Warnely scores risk →
Sri Lanka carries a materially lower safety risk than Myanmar on the composite Warnely score: 36/100 against 80/100, a gap of 44 points. The biggest single category gap is in civil unrest, where Sri Lanka scores 2/5 against Myanmar's 5/5. The US State Department currently carries a Level 2 advisory on Sri Lanka and a Level 4 on Myanmar. Women's-safety rating differs: Sri Lanka is Generally Safe and Myanmar is Exercise Significant Caution. Drug law diverges sharply: Sri Lanka carries a tier-severe regime against Myanmar's more permissive framework.
🇱🇰Sri Lanka 🇲🇲Myanmar
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 36 / 100 80 / 100
Risk tier Exercise Increased Caution Do Not Travel
UK FCDO advisory No active advisory No active advisory
US State Department advisory Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) Level 4 (Do Not Travel)
Global Peace Index rank #97 #153
Drug law Severe (long sentences) Death penalty possible
Women's safety rating Generally Safe Exercise Significant Caution
LGBTQ+ legal status illegal illegal
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency LKR MMK
Full guide

Is Sri Lanka safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is Myanmar safe to visit in 2026?

Sri Lanka vs Myanmar: common questions

Is Sri Lanka or Myanmar safer to visit?

Sri Lanka has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 36/100 vs 80/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Sri Lanka or Myanmar safer for solo female travellers?

Sri Lanka is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Myanmar is rated Exercise Significant Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Sri Lanka and Myanmar?

Sri Lanka: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Myanmar: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 4 (Do Not Travel) (US State).

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Planning the trip? Check Sri Lanka visa requirements and Myanmar visa requirements.

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