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Cameroon · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Yaoundé scores 48/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. No. Yaoundé presents notable safety risks for visitors, particularly street crime and regional instability. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (moderate risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Cameroon · Assessed 13 October 2026
48
/ 100
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against travel Bakassi Peninsula FCDO advises against all travel to Bakassi Peninsula.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:35:34Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Cameroon: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-09-24T11:45:43.0215179-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging and armed robbery occur, especially at night in poorly lit areas and near transport hubs.
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing and bag-snatching are frequent in crowded markets, buses, and around hotels in central Yaoundé.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Less than half feel safe
55/100
Only 44% of residents report feeling safe walking alone after dark, indicating widespread personal safety concerns that affect visitor confidence at night.
No. Yaoundé presents notable safety risks for visitors, particularly street crime and regional instability.
Yaoundé's composite safety index of 47/100 reflects moderate to high crime and weak governance, with a homicide rate of 6.8 per 100k and only 44% of residents feeling safe walking alone after dark. While air quality and health infrastructure are relatively strong, petty crime and opportunistic theft remain common concerns for travelers.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Yaoundé sees frequent pickpocketing in busy areas like the Mokolo market and around public transport hubs, where thieves target distracted visitors. The U.S. Embassy’s September 2026 advisory noted ongoing crime and civil unrest concerns, reinforcing the need for caution after dark. While violent crime is less common than petty theft, muggings do occur in poorly lit neighborhoods and isolated streets, particularly late at night. Travelers should avoid walking alone after dark and use trusted transport options. Official corruption remains a concern, with nearly half of public official interactions involving bribery requests, so travelers should remain calm and assertive if approached by individuals claiming to be police. Keep copies of documents separate from originals and monitor local developments, especially near government buildings or protest zones, as demonstrations can arise with little notice. Staying alert in crowds and securing belongings are the most effective defenses against the most likely threats.
Was this Yaoundé, Cameroon report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 8 Yaoundé districts for visitors: 2 safer, 4 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Yaoundé safety map.
EtoudiavoidPresidential palace vicinity; heightened security presence but reports of arbitrary detention and protests; avoid demonstrations and nighttime movement.
Biyem-AssiavoidDensely populated area with frequent reports of mugging and robbery; avoid walking alone, especially after dark.
Centre VillecautionCentral business district; busy during day but pickpocketing and petty theft reported, especially near markets and transport hubs.
Mvog-AdacautionResidential area with local markets; moderate risk of opportunistic theft; avoid walking alone at night.
NkolndongocautionUniversity area with student activity; petty crime reported; remain vigilant after dark.
MfoundicautionArea around the Mfoundi River; flooding risk during heavy rains; exercise caution near waterways and avoid informal settlements after dark.
BastossaferUpscale residential area with embassies and hotels; low street crime but remain alert after dark.
NlongkaksaferResidential neighborhood near international schools; generally low crime but standard precautions advised for visitors.
07 · After Dark
44% of people in Cameroon say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2021).
Mugging and armed robbery occur, especially at night in poorly lit areas and near transport hubs.
After dark, be most careful around Etoudi, Biyem-Assi, Centre Ville, Mvog-Ada. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
No. Yaoundé presents notable safety risks for visitors, particularly street crime and regional instability. Yaoundé's composite safety index of 47/100 reflects moderate to high crime and weak governance, with a homicide rate of 6.8 per 100k and only 44% of residents feeling safe walking alone after dark. While air quality and health infrastructure are relatively strong, petty crime and opportunistic theft remain common concerns for travelers. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)
Safety is not one number, and this Yaoundé report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Field research flags Etoudi, Biyem-Assi as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Yaoundé ranks #2 of 3 Cameroon destinations we've assessed, scoring 48/100. See the Cameroon safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
Keep exploring
Raw data: yaounde.json (CC BY 4.0).
