The Most Dangerous Countries in the World by Region

UPDATED: 12 June 2026  INSIDE THIS ARTICLE, YOU'LL FIND: What defines a "dangerous country"? What are the most dangerous countries in the world? The Americas Europe Middle East and North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Asia-Pacific The Danger of Popular Travel Destinations

Understanding the dangers associated with travel to certain countries is vital for making informed decisions and conducting cost-benefit analysis for leisure, adventure, and business travel alike. By examining the unique risks and issues in different regions, and understanding the dangers associated with travel to a particular country, you can take proactive measures to protect yourself. But sometimes, this may even include deciding to postpone or cancel travel based on the current level of danger.

Merriam-Webster defines “danger” as: Exposure or liability to injury, pain, harm, or loss. Oxford’s definition adds the element of likelihood: The possibility of suffering harm or injury. Here at Global Guardian, we view the word “danger” through the lens of risk, which bridges these two definitions. Broadly speaking, risk is the combination of the likelihood of a harmful event and severity of its impact. Therefore, the most dangerous countries in the world are those with the highest travel risk—countries where the likelihood and extent of harm to a traveler are highest.

What Defines a "Dangerous Country"?

To determine the level of travel risk for a particular country, we take into account both quantitative metrics and qualitative indicators. Typically, we look at factors including crime rates, health, natural disasters, infrastructure, conflict, civil unrest, and terrorism. Based on the above categories and weighted with our proprietary methodology, we divide countries into five categories of risk ranging from Low to Extreme. We evaluate the travel risk of a country on a rolling basis.

• Countries classified as Low Risk are considered highly stable. These countries maintain a strong rule of law and are capable of containing both internal and external threats to security.
• Countries classified as Moderate Risk are considered resilient. These countries are capable of quickly and effectively managing crisis and threats to personal security.
• Countries classified as Medium Risk are not fully secure. Political tension and lack of adequate law enforcement make these countries vulnerable to sporadic unrest.
• Countries classified as High Risk experience ongoing conflict, criminal activity or civil unrest. These countries have weak institutions and are incapable of effectively managing crises.
• Countries classified as Extreme Risk are actively engaged in military conflict, while experiencing severe criminal activity and civil unrest. These countries are insecure; state institutions are too weak to manage militant or insurgent groups.

Global Guardian assesses the following regions to be Extreme Risk for travel: Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip, Haiti, Mali, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen. 

Not only does Global Guardian evaluate country travel risk, but the foreign ministries of many countries do as well. The United States Department of State has a Travel Advisory system with four levels—Level 1: Exercise normal precautions; Level 2: Exercise increased caution; Level 3: Reconsider travel; and Level 4: Do not travel.

As of May 2026, the U.S. Department of State maintains Level 4: Do not travel advisories for 20 countries, including Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Hati, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen. We encourage prospective travelers to consult with their respective country’s relevant travel advisories ahead of all travel.

The World’s Most Dangerous Countries, by Region

At Global Guardian, we break down the globe into five separate geographies to help identify the most dangerous countries in the world. The countries in these regions generally share common themes, be it shared climatic threats or security threats that cross borders, like militant groups or transnational organized crime. For our purposes, these regions are the Americas, Europe, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and Asia-Pacific (APAC).

Americas (North America, Central America, South America)

The region’s security landscape is shaped by the extensive influence of organized crime groups involved in an ever-widening array of illicit markets, from narcotics trafficking and dealing to illegal gold mining. The pervasiveness of political and security force corruption weakens many states’ ability to provide safety to their citizens, contributing to widespread mistrust and civil unrest. Many Latin Americans are demanding punitive, militarized state responses to crime threats, as implemented by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. The region is also particularly vulnerable to extreme weather, especially the Atlantic hurricane season, which can pose major safety issues and cause massive travel disruption between June and November, peaking in August and September. 

 Ecuador (Medium Risk) 

 Rapidly deteriorating security conditions have reshaped Ecuador into one of Latin America’s most volatile environments, driven largely by its emergence as a key cocaine transit hub linking Andean production to global markets. Criminal groups such as Los Lobos and Los Choneros have evolved from local gangs into powerful trafficking organizations, competing violently for control of ports, prisons, and drug routes—particularly in cities like Guayaquil. The government’s aggressive, militarized response under President Daniel Noboa has included states of emergency and the designation of criminal groups as terrorist organizations, but has also triggered retaliatory violence, including attacks targeting civilians. For travelers, risk levels vary significantly by location. While destinations such as Quito and the Galápagos Islands remain relatively secure with appropriate precautions, port cities and coastal regions, especially Guayaquil and parts of Esmeraldas, experience higher levels of violent crime and should be approached with caution. 

Mexico (High Risk)

 Violent conflict between criminal groups and the state remains the key variable influencing security, politics, and economics in Mexico. The criminal landscape is a patchwork of around a dozen major criminal organizations competing for control of numerous illicit economies, including drug trafficking, fuel theft, human smuggling, and extortion. The Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS) remain the two most powerful criminal enterprises, despite the 2026 killing of CJNG boss Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes “El Mencho”, and an ongoing Sinaloa Cartel civil war started in late 2024. At least a dozen other major cartels operate in other states across Mexico, sometimes holding tenuous alliances with either the CJNG or Sinaloa Cartel.

Violence in Mexico is highly localized and varies significantly by region. While historically concentrated in known high-risk areas, insecurity has increasingly affected major tourist destinations such as Cancún, Tulum, and Puerto Vallarta. Border regions and the Tierra Caliente zone—spanning parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, and the State of Mexico—remain areas of elevated risk and should be avoided. Read more about safety in Mexico.  

Venezuela (High Risk)

Venezuela faces a complex security environment shaped by economic collapse, political instability, and entrenched criminal networks. Violence is driven by a mix of organized crime groups, prison-based gangs, and pro-government armed colectivos, which exert territorial control in parts of major cities and border regions. While homicide rates have declined from previous peaks, Venezuela remains one of the most violent countries in Latin America, with insecurity compounded by weak rule of law and limited police capacity. Travel to border states, mining regions, and high-crime urban neighborhoods should be avoided whenever possible. Security in Caracas has improved in recent years, due in part to reduced economic activity, increased state control, and large-scale emigration that has altered criminal dynamics. Under interim President Delcy Rodríguez, the government has sought to attract foreign investment and business travel through legal and economic reforms, emphasizing greater protections for investors. Travel to Caracas is possible with sufficient security posture and planning.

Global Guardian also advises against travel to Haiti (Extreme Risk).

EUROPE

Europe is still largely stable for travel, but the operating environment has changed. The war in Ukraine has altered security dynamics along the eastern flank and reinforced the need to account for renewed state-level conflict risk across the region. Physical fortifications are going up on the Russian border and conscription is being revived or expanded across the region as its security chiefs warn of a potential conflict with Russia as early as 2027–2030. Since the 07 October 2023 attack in Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza, the threat of terrorism has increased across Western Europe. In 2024, the region recorded its first year-over-year increase in both terror incidents and fatalities since the collapse of the Islamic State caliphate in Iraq and Syria, reversing the decline that had held since 2018. According to Global Guardian’s Global Terror Index, Europe has nine high terror risk countries. Explore the interactive map as part of our 2026 Global Risk Assessment and download your copy here.

Belarus (Medium Risk) & Russia (Medium RIsk)

Russia is an authoritarian security state engaged in what its leadership perceives to be an existential struggle with the West. The main risk posed to travelers in Russia is the threat of wrongful detention. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country has increased the pace of its arbitrary detention of foreign nationals, particularly Americans. The Russian regime uses arbitrary detention as leverage in securing the release of lawfully detained Russian nationals abroad and in the negotiation of sanctions. Travelers to Belarus face the risks of wrongful detention. Similarly, travelers to either Russia or Belarus should have no expectation of digital privacy and should assume that all electronic communications are being monitored by the government. We advise against all travel to Russia or Belarus for nationals of NATO member states over concern of arbitrary detention.

Ukraine (Extreme Risk)

Over four years into the Russo-Ukrainian war, there is still no end in sight. Ukraine’s major cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa, regularly come under drone and missile attacks. Periods of frontline stagnation tend to coincide with increased Russian strategic bombardment efforts. We recommend against non-essential travel to Ukraine, but travel can be conducted with proper planning and security arrangements. All areas near the frontlines in the Donbas or borders with Russia should be completely avoided.

Middle East and North Africa

Plagued by chronic instability, ethno-religious grievances, and geopolitical dynamics that shift with the sand, the Middle East is again reshaping following the transformative events that began on 07 October 2023. These events have led to interconnected conflicts impacting Gaza, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. Indeed, the 2026 Middle East conflict has seen Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—the region’s safest countries—become targets of drones and missiles. There are several countries within this region, including some not included in this list, where travel should be outright avoided.

Lebanon (High Risk)

Fighting and airstrikes in Lebanon have displaced more than 1.2 million people, destroyed critical infrastructure, and strained already fragile medical and logistical systems. If you must travel to Lebanon, it is imperative to heed Israeli evacuation orders and avoid southern Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, as these are target-rich Hezbollah strongholds that have, and will continue to, come under Israeli bombardment. There is also an elevated risk of kidnapping for American travelers.

Sudan (Extreme Risk) 

6.9 million Sudanese have been pushed into poverty, 40,000 people killed, a quarter of Sudan’s 14,000,000 people are displaced, and up to 40% of power generation has been taken offline. Key water infrastructure has been destroyed, and cholera has spread at abnormally high rates due to displacement and water infrastructure damage.

Neither side is significantly closer to victory than at the war’s start, and both factions have benefited from outside support as countries in the region pick sides. The entrenched control of each faction over their respective portions of the country, and the formation of parallel government institutions, have made peace less attainable than it was at the outset of the conflict, threatening to fracture the country.

We strongly recommend against all unnecessary travel outside of the Port Sudan area, and the observance of extreme caution in and around Port Sudan.

Yemen (Extreme Risk)

Yemen is one of the world’s least developed nations, where 80% of the population (21.6 million people) are food insecure and lack access to basic services. Despite a cooling of the intensity of the civil war, Yemen remains a failed and fractured state where no entity maintains a monopoly on violence. Healthcare and emergency services are almost non-existent in Yemen. The long-term resolution of the civil war remains elusive, and a renewal of intensive hostilities remains a possibility. While travel to the island of Socotra is possible, we recommend against all travel to this war-torn nation, especially areas under the control of the Iran-backed Houthis, who are being targeted by American and Israeli forces.

Global Guardian also advises against travel to the following MENA locations:

• Afghanistan (Extreme Risk)

• Iraq (High Risk) 

• Libya (High Risk) 

• South Sudan (High Risk) 

• Syria (High Risk) 

• The Gaza Strip (Extreme Risk) 

Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) security dynamics are driven by weak state institutions, ethno-religious rifts, and conflicts that are fueled by its abundance of natural resources. Sub-Saharan regimes are often reliant on narrow bases of support that leverage, rather than redress, ethno-religious divisions to maintain power. The resultant lack of national institutions, combined with ethnic grievances, often leads to long-term insurgencies fueled by access to natural resources such as diamonds or oil. The prevalence of intractable conflicts leads both governments and rebels to neglect critical services such as healthcare infrastructure.

Democratic republic of congo (high Risk)

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces multiple risks that are exacerbated by the Kinshasa-based central government’s inability to project power throughout the entire country. The primary risk dynamic in DRC stems from active conflict with the Rwanda-backed paramilitary M23 in the country’s northeastern Kivu provinces. M23 launched a successful offensive in 2025 that saw the group seize control of most of north and south Kivu, including the regional administrative centers of Goma and Bukavu. While international pressure has arrested the group’s forward momentum, the DRC’s military and government aligned militias continue to engage M23 and its affiliates in and around the Kivu area. Significant mineral deposits, including the world’s largest and highest-quality cobalt and coltan deposits, provide a source of wealth for armed groups that allows them to continue fighting and exacerbates corruption and smuggling issues. DRC is also host to several health risks, including mpox and Ebola outbreaks.

ethiopia (high Risk)

Ethiopia is a politically unstable country with deep ethnic divisions, currently hosting multiple interconnected ethnic armed conflicts. Ethiopia’s various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have substantial control over regional governments, and the central government is currently fighting the Amhara Fano National Movement in Amhara, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in Oromia, and the Tigray Defense Forces in and around Tigray. The 2020-2022 war in the Tigray region resulted in more than 600,000 deaths, and the unresolved political aftermath is now at the center of the current inter-regional tensions.

Ethiopia’s neighbors, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan, are frequently involved in domestic conflicts in Ethiopia, and vice versa. Ethiopia could become directly engaged in a new war with Eritrea where it harbors ambitions of sovereign access to the Red Sea. Ethiopia may also become more directly engaged in the neighboring Sudanese civil war where it supports the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Conflicts in Ethiopia have previously disrupted supply chains for food and medicine, resulting in acute shortages. There is a high risk of kidnapping in the border regions with Kenya and Somalia.

mali (extreme Risk)

Mali is an active conflict zone where the central government under military leader Assimi Goïta contends with two major jihadist groups, an ethno-nationalist separatist movement, and other factions of the military junta he leads for control of the country. Embattled Malian forces are supported only by Russia’s Africa Corps, since the country expelled French and UN forces in 2022 that had helped stabilize the country. Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al Qaeda affiliate, Islamic State of the Sahel Province (ISSP), and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg separatist movement, all pose substantial threats to the regime, which is unlikely to stabilize the security situation without external intervention. We recommend against all unnecessary travel to any part of Mali.

Nigeria (high Risk)

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and one of the region’s most dynamic economies. However, despite being endowed with significant oil and gas reserves, Nigeria struggles with piracy, banditry, unstable neighbors, and political instability. In the northwest, intercommunal violence and banditry are so pervasive as to amount to insurgency level conflicts. Attacks on and between communities, carjacking, robbery, and more significantly, kidnapping, in this region is pervasive. In the northeast, Nigeria struggles against the jihadist groups Boko Haram as well as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The ability of these groups to move men and material through Nigeria’s porous borders with Chad, Niger, and Cameroon contributes to difficulties in securing the region. In the southeast, the Biafran separatist movement contributes to insecurity and violence. In the Niger river delta, piracy and banditry, fueled by inequal benefits from the country’s oil and gas sector, create substantial risks to travelers and business operators. While Lagos and Abuja are relatively secure regarding conflict, they both have large areas made dangerous by pervasive violent crime.

Global Guardian also advises against travel to Somalia (Extreme Risk).

Asia-PACific

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region hosts a variety of political dynamics born of huge disparities in geography and demographics. APAC countries tend to have ethnic and linguistic fault lines, which frequently become divisions in the absence of robust state institutions. The region, situated on the Ring of Fire, also routinely experiences earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as some of the strongest tropical storms in the world, which predominately originate in the Indian Ocean between the months of April and September.

Myanmar (EXTREME Risk)

The 2021 military coup in Myanmar triggered a civil war that has seen control over vast swaths of the country change hands multiple times. The central government under Tatmadaw (the Burmese military’s political arm) control has taken back the initiative in its fight against an increasingly fractious coalition of ethnic armed groups (EAG) and pro-democratic forces. The war has seen a breakdown in Myanmar’s already strained logistical infrastructure, which seriously complicates travel, the supply of basic goods and services, and medical care. We advise against all unnecessary travel to Myanmar.

Pakistan (High Risk)

Pakistan is currently undergoing political and financial crises, exacerbated by fuel shortages stemming from the war with Iran. The country’s weekly payments for fuel imports—heavily dependent on exports that normally run through the Strait of Hormuz—recently rose to $800 million from $300 million before the start of the conflict. Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif’s military backed government faces the unenviable choice of inciting popular unrest and political turmoil by passing the rising cost of fuel on to consumers or angering the international lenders on which Pakistan relies to avoid financial catastrophe.

Islamabad also faces the possible resumption of cross border fighting with its neighbor Afghanistan, on top of persistent insurgencies centered in the Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Following high casualty suicide bombings that the Pakistani government attributed to Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Pakistan conducted multiple airstrikes on suspected TTP facilities in Kabul and other cities in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan which led to cross border clashes and dozens of killed and wounded on both sides. Global Guardian advises against all travel to Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Afghan border.

The Danger of Popular Travel Destinations

Is Colombia Safe? Medium Risk

Security conditions in Colombia remain shaped by a fragmented conflict environment despite the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC. A range of armed actors, including the ELN, FARC dissident factions, and criminal groups such as Clan del Golfo, continue to compete for control of drug trafficking routes, illegal mining, and rural territory. Under President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” strategy, partial ceasefires and a reduction in military pressure have coincided with territorial expansion by these groups, alongside increases in extortion, kidnapping, and forced displacement. Armed groups have also begun incorporating explosive-laden commercial drones into their operations. For travelers, risk varies significantly by region. Major cities such as Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena are generally accessible with precautions, though petty crime, particularly theft and scams, are common. Outside urban centers, security conditions deteriorate, especially in border regions, coca-growing zones, and remote rural areas where armed group presence is strongest. 

is Thailand Safe? MEdium Risk

Travel safety in Thailand varies greatly by region but the touristy destinations and developed cities are safe to visit. Vigilance is recommended when attending nightclubs and beach parties, as they are hotspots for theft, assault, and sexual violence. Travelers should avoid travel to all the border regions, and the southern provinces of Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwa, due to high crime rates associated with narco-traffic routes, the prevalence of malaria and other infectious diseases, and terrorism.

is Jamaica Safe? HIGH Risk

While Jamaica’s resorts are generally safe, violent crime—including homicide, robbery, and sexual assault—is a serious problem, particularly in Kingston and Montego Bay. For decades, Jamaica maintained one of the highest murder rates in the region, often exceeding 40–50 per 100,000. The country's pervasive gang presence, together with a corrupt and overwhelmed police force, makes crime a serious concern nationwide. Armed robbery is the crime most likely to affect travelers. Foreign nationals are targeted by petty criminals due to perceived wealth, particularly on public transit and around tourist sites, including the "Hip Strip" of bars in downtown Montego Bay. Scams are commonplace. Global Guardian urges prospective travelers not to follow anyone anywhere outside of a resort.

Is Italy Safe? Moderate Risk  

Italy is one of the most seismically active countries in Europe, making it susceptible to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. In 2009, a 5.8 magnitude quake near Abruzzo killed 308 people, injured a further 1,500, and caused $16 billion in damages. Stromboli, just north of the island of Sicily, is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Volcanic ash can seriously impede air travel with very little notice. While most violence perpetrated by organized criminal groups in Italy is directed at one another, travelers are at risk of being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time in both urban and ex-urban areas.

International Security Solutions While Traveling

When it comes to travel in dangerous locations, having the right guidance and support is crucial. Global Guardian is here to help you navigate the complexities and challenges of global travel, including to High- and Extreme-Risk areas. Our experienced team of security experts can provide you with the necessary tools, resources, and real-time information to ensure your safety and peace of mind. Global Guardian also has experience evacuating clients from the Middle East, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar, and other conflict areas. Whether you are a business traveler, tourist, or adventurer, trust Global Guardian to be your reliable partner in mitigating risks and enhancing your travel experience.

To learn more about our comprehensive duty of care and security solutions and how we can assist you on your journeys around the world, complete the form below or call us at + 1 (703) 566-9463.