{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/ethiopia/hawassa","updatedAt":"2026-08-06T18:04:23.402Z","place":{"city":"Hawassa","country":"Ethiopia","countryCode":"ET","lat":7.10131,"lon":38.39664},"safety":{"score":44,"level":"CAUTION","answer":"Caution advised","saferThanPctOfCountries":32,"confidence":0.86,"caps":[{"max":44,"reason":"Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel"}],"databaseScore":41,"travellerSentiment":{"score":63,"label":"Mixed","summary":"While some sources suggest Hawassa can feel calmer than Addis Ababa, and one traveler-maintained guide states it's 'generally safe,' official advisories and reports of unrest and police abuse temper this. Visitors should be prepared for a situation that requires caution.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":55,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":55,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":63,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":30,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":41,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":65,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":3,"label":"Reconsider Travel","updated":"Wed, 01 Apr 2026","url":"http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/ethiopia-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":4,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-05-29T10:35:25Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ethiopia"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":3,"label":"Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/ethiopia"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":8.51054794891045,"display":"8.5 / 100k","year":"2012","score":50,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":0.9,"display":"0.9%","year":"2015","score":99,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":3.602219028927229,"display":"3.6 / million","year":"2021","score":56,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":17.7,"display":"17.7 / 100k","year":"2021","score":47,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":33.6960224,"display":"34/100","year":"2024","score":34,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":38.9119872,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":38.9918024,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":38.7798166,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":41.7214465,"display":"42/100","year":"2024","score":42,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":35.1042066,"display":"35/100","year":"2024","score":35,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":50.3,"display":"50.3 / 100","year":null,"score":54,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":79,"display":"US AQI 79 · Moderate","year":null,"score":76,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":3.3,"display":"3 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2016","score":15,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":24,"display":"August: highs ~24°C · wet spell","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 5 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":3,"display":"Level 3 — Reconsider Travel · 2 govts","year":null,"score":30,"source":"US State Dept · Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":55,"display":"55 / 100 (Mixed)","year":null,"score":55,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Reconsider travel to Hawassa due to ongoing political and ethnic conflicts, and the risk of crime.","summary":"While Hawassa itself is generally considered safer than some other parts of Ethiopia, the country's overall instability, including political and ethnic conflicts, significantly impacts safety. Official advisories recommend reconsidering travel to Ethiopia, and specific regions are off-limits. Travelers should be aware of potential crime, particularly petty theft, and exercise caution.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"While violent crime is reported as low in Hawassa, the broader context of political and ethnic conflict in Ethiopia increases general risk. Kidnappings are a growing concern nationally."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Petty theft, including pickpocketing and phone snatching, is a risk in busy areas like markets and after dark."},"safeAreas":["Lakeside Promenade","University District"],"avoidAreas":["Outskirts/Periphery"],"scams":["Overcharging for goods and services","Fake tour guides","Emotional appeals for money"],"zones":[{"name":"Lakeside Promenade","level":"safe","note":"Generally safe and well-trafficked, especially during the day."},{"name":"Fish Market Area","level":"caution","note":"Can be crowded; watch for pickpockets and be aware of your surroundings."},{"name":"University District","level":"safe","note":"Typically a safe area with a student population."},{"name":"Industrial Zone","level":"caution","note":"May have less tourist infrastructure; exercise caution, especially after dark."},{"name":"City Center/Downtown","level":"caution","note":"Standard urban precautions apply; be aware of petty crime and avoid isolated areas at night."},{"name":"Outskirts/Periphery","level":"avoid","note":"Less developed areas may have higher crime rates and limited services."}]}}