Travel safety

Highest crime risk countries for travellers in 2026

Countries where the assessed risk of violent or opportunistic crime against travellers is highest in 2026, with notes on where the risk concentrates within each.

· How Warnely scores risk →

Crime risk for travellers concentrates in particular neighbourhoods of particular cities. The headline crime statistics for the country rarely match the experience of a tourist staying in a curated district and using ride-hailing apps. Across the 180 countries Warnely tracks, a small group warrant elevated baseline caution. These are the countries where opportunistic robbery, express kidnap, or violent crime against foreigners has happened often enough that the editorial rating sits at 4 or 5 out of 5.

The country profile for each entry below identifies the specific districts where the risk concentrates. For most of these countries the practical advice is the same. Stay in the right neighbourhoods. Use Uber or the local equivalent. Avoid showing wealth. Following that advice reduces the practical risk substantially, but the baseline still warrants knowing.

How this list is built. Sorted descending by the crime category score. The note column points to the dominant risk pattern in each country: express kidnap, opportunistic theft, drug-related violence, or persistent organised-crime activity.

The list

1
🇿🇦

South Africa

5/5

Very high crime rate. Armed robbery, carjacking, and mugging common. Tourist areas better policed.
2
🇭🇹

Haiti

5/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
3
🇱🇾

Libya

5/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
4
🇸🇩

Sudan

5/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
5
🇸🇸

South Sudan

5/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
6
🇧🇫

Burkina Faso

5/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
7
🇸🇴

Somalia

5/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
8
🇸🇾

Syria

5/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
9
🇾🇪

Yemen

5/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
10
🇦🇫

Afghanistan

5/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
11
🇺🇦

Ukraine

5/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
12
🇮🇳

India

4/5

Tourist scams very common. Harassment and sexual assault reported, especially for solo women.
13
🇲🇽

Mexico

4/5

Cartel violence in specific regions. Tourist areas patrolled. Express kidnapping rare but reported.
14
🇨🇴

Colombia

4/5

Mugging and express kidnapping in cities. Scopolamine drugging reported. Tourist areas well-policed.
15
🇧🇷

Brazil

4/5

Armed robbery and mugging common in major cities. Favela violence. Phone snatching widespread.
16
🇰🇪

Kenya

4/5

Armed robbery and carjacking in Nairobi. Petty crime widespread. Safari lodges and reserves safe.
17
🇱🇧

Lebanon

4/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
18
🇳🇬

Nigeria

4/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
19
🇻🇪

Venezuela

4/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
20
🇵🇬

Papua New Guinea

4/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
21
🇨🇩

Democratic Republic of Congo

4/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
22
🇲🇱

Mali

4/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
23
🇳🇪

Niger

4/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
24
🇮🇶

Iraq

4/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.
25
🇹🇩

Chad

4/5

Check FCDO/State Dept for current assessment.

Data view (click a header to sort)

Rank Country Region Risk score Risk tier Crime score
1 South Africa Africa 52 Exercise Increased Caution 5/5
2 Haiti Latin America & the Caribbean 75 High Risk 5/5
3 Libya Africa 82 Do Not Travel 5/5
4 Sudan Africa 80 Do Not Travel 5/5
5 South Sudan Africa 82 Do Not Travel 5/5
6 Burkina Faso Africa 75 High Risk 5/5
7 Somalia Africa 86 Do Not Travel 5/5
8 Syria Middle East 86 Do Not Travel 5/5
9 Yemen Middle East 86 Do Not Travel 5/5
10 Afghanistan Asia 86 Do Not Travel 5/5
11 Ukraine Europe 77 Do Not Travel 5/5
12 India Asia 47 Exercise Increased Caution 4/5
13 Mexico Latin America & the Caribbean 52 Exercise Increased Caution 4/5
14 Colombia Latin America & the Caribbean 47 Exercise Increased Caution 4/5
15 Brazil Latin America & the Caribbean 51 Exercise Increased Caution 4/5
16 Kenya Africa 50 Exercise Increased Caution 4/5
17 Lebanon Middle East 63 High Risk 4/5
18 Nigeria Africa 64 High Risk 4/5
19 Venezuela Latin America & the Caribbean 74 High Risk 4/5
20 Papua New Guinea Oceania 57 High Risk 4/5
21 Democratic Republic of Congo Africa 74 High Risk 4/5
22 Mali Africa 73 High Risk 4/5
23 Niger Africa 71 High Risk 4/5
24 Iraq Middle East 73 High Risk 4/5
25 Chad Africa 68 High Risk 4/5
For most countries on this list, the question of where you go inside the country is more important than the question of whether you visit at all. A specific district inside one city tends to carry the majority of the country's crime risk. The rest of the country may well be statistically safer than London or New York. The Warnely guide for each entry identifies the specific high-risk areas.

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