Asia · Updated
As of October 2026, Afghanistan scores 20/100 on the IsMyTripSafe safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. The U.S. State Department rates Afghanistan Level 4: Do Not Travel. Of the 3 Afghanistan destinations assessed, Kandahar scores highest (20/100), while Kabul scores lowest (17/100).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Afghanistan · Assessed 19 October 2026
20
/ 100
Safer than ~7% of countries
Score capped at 20 — Level 4 advisory — "Do Not Travel". No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Do Not Travel
“Do not traveldue to civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, natural disasters, and limited health facilities. Do not travel to Afghanistan for any reason We urge American citizens in Afghanistan to leave immediately.”
Updated Fri, 20 Feb 2026
Full advisory →Advises against all travel
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan You should not travel to Afghanistan.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:23:54Z
Full advisory →Avoid all travel
“Canada's official risk level for Afghanistan: avoid all travel.”
Updated 2026-10-14T07:01:50.7595549-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
HighArmed robbery and mugging are common in Kabul and other cities, particularly targeting foreigners and aid workers
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded areas like Kabul's Old City and bazaars, though overshadowed by violent crime
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Extremely negative
33/100
Traveler reports consistently describe Afghanistan as one of the most dangerous places globally, with widespread fear of detention, attack, and lack of freedom, especially for women and Westerners.
No. Afghanistan is extremely unsafe for travelers due to pervasive terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary detention, and active conflict.
All Western governments maintain Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisories citing terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest, and lack of consular support. ISIS-K continues high-tempo attacks in Kabul, Nangarhar, and northern provinces, while Taliban rule imposes severe restrictions and detention risks, especially for women. Visitors face extreme risks with no reliable emergency services or embassy presence.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Afghanistan remains under universal 'Do Not Travel' advisories from all Western governments due to ongoing terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary detention, and civil unrest. ISIS-K continues high-tempo attacks in Kabul, Nangarhar, and northern provinces, while Taliban governance imposes severe restrictions on movement, expression, and assembly, with frequent reports of detention for minor infractions, especially targeting women and foreigners. The U.S. Embassy operates from Doha and provides no consular services inside the country, leaving travelers without diplomatic protection. Recent Pakistani airstrikes in October 2026 have heightened cross-border tensions, increasing risks in eastern provinces like Kunar and Nangarhar. Scams targeting travelers include fake visa facilitators requesting money transfers to third countries and impersonators posing as officials demanding bribes. Pickpocketing occurs in crowded areas such as Kabul's Old City, but armed robbery and kidnapping present far greater dangers. Traveler sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with consistent reports of fear, restricted movement, and lack of safety. No neighborhood in Afghanistan can be considered safe for casual tourism, and all travel should be avoided unless conducted under strict organizational security protocols for essential humanitarian or diplomatic work.
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06 · Destinations
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07 · Questions
The U.S. State Department currently rates Afghanistan Level 4 of 4 — Do Not Travel. On our composite index Afghanistan scores 20/100. See the destination reports above for city-level detail. (Updated 19 October 2026.)
Of the destinations we've assessed, Kandahar currently scores highest at 20/100 (High Risk). Kabul scores lowest at 17/100.
Directly from public sources: US, UK and Canadian government advisories, World Bank and UNODC crime statistics, WHO health data, live air-quality, disaster and earthquake feeds — plus AI field research over current local reporting. Read the full methodology.
