Africa · Updated
As of October 2026, Eritrea scores 26/100 on the IsMyTripSafe safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. Of the 1 Eritrea destination assessed, Asmara scores highest (46/100).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Eritrea · Assessed 13 October 2026
26
/ 100
Safer than ~11% of countries
Score capped at 44 — Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel. No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Areas where FCDO advises against travel Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. FCDO advises against all travel to within 25km of all of Eritrea’s land borders.”
Updated 2026-10-12T11:48:05Z
Full advisory →Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Eritrea: avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-10-07T07:55:28.8445338-04:00
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
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
HighThe homicide rate is significantly higher than the global average, indicating a high risk of violent crime.
Pickpocketing
ModerateWhile specific data on pickpocketing is limited, general crime levels suggest a moderate risk in populated areas.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Very Negative
34/100
Official advisories and news reports indicate severe safety concerns, with no positive traveler sentiment data available.
Eritrea is not safe for travelers, with official advisories recommending against non-essential travel.
The country faces significant political instability and conflict risks, compounded by a high homicide rate and weak rule of law. Travelers should be aware of ongoing regional tensions and border disputes.
Recent developments
Full briefing
Eritrea presents significant safety challenges for any traveler, with official government advisories strongly recommending against non-essential travel. The country's composite safety index is low, reflecting high risks across multiple categories, particularly conflict and terrorism, and institutions and rule of law.
Recent reports highlight escalating regional tensions. In October 2026, Eritrean troops were reported to be moving into Ethiopia's Tigray region, and Eritrea cut ties with Ethiopia over an embassy closure, fueling concerns about a potential regional conflict. These developments underscore the volatile political climate and the risk of spillover conflict, as noted by Al Jazeera and France 24.
The homicide rate in Eritrea is considerably higher than the global average, suggesting a high risk of violent crime. While specific data on petty crime like pickpocketing is scarce, the overall crime environment indicates a moderate risk in populated areas. Travelers should be aware of the weak rule of law and control of corruption indicators, which suggest a challenging environment for personal safety and security. Given these factors, extreme caution is advised, and adherence to government travel advisories is paramount.
Was this Eritrea, Eritrea report helpful?
06 · Destinations
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07 · Questions
On our composite index Eritrea scores 26/100. See the destination reports above for city-level detail. (Updated 13 October 2026.)
Of the destinations we've assessed, Asmara currently scores highest at 46/100 (Use Caution).
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.
