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Is Port-au-Prince safe? 🇭🇹

Haiti · Safety report last updated 13 October 2026

As of October 2026, Port-au-Prince scores 13/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. No. Port-au-Prince is extremely unsafe for travelers, with government advisories recommending against all travel. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (severe risk) and robbery (severe risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 4 (Do Not Travel).

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Port-au-Prince 🇭🇹

Haiti · Assessed 13 October 2026

/ 100

Elevated risk — reconsider

Safer than ~3% of countries

Score capped at 20 — Level 4 advisory — "Do Not Travel". No other indicator can raise the score above this.

District map

What drives this score

Crime23/100ElevatedCrime index 79.8 / 100

Sentiment15/100ElevatedExtremely negative

Advisories0Elevated

Stability47Caution

Health58Fair

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Elevated

U.S. Department of State

Level 4

Do Not Travel

“Do not travel to Haiti due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, and limited health care. Read the entire Travel Advisory.”

Updated Fri, 10 Jul 2026

Full advisory →

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 4

Advises against all travel

“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.”

Updated 2026-10-07T10:56:44Z

Full advisory →

Government of Canada

Level 4

Avoid all travel

“Canada's official risk level for Haiti: avoid all travel.”

Updated 2026-09-24T08:53:34.1949366-04:00

Full advisory →

02 · Evidence Signals

Crime

Elevated

Mugging & robbery risk

Severe risk

City SignalCity Web Research

Pickpocketing & theft risk

Severe risk

City SignalCity Web Research

Visitor safety sentiment

5 / 100 (Extremely negative)

City SignalCity Web Research

Urban scale factor

1.2M residents

City SignalCity Geocoding

Crime index (crowdsourced)

79.8 / 100

City SignalNumbeo Crime Index

Homicide rate

41.2 / 100k

Country BaselineWorld Bank Open Data · 2023

Feel safe walking alone after dark

No data

—

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database

Physical assault (past year)

No data

—

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database

Robbery / mugging

Severe

Widespread gang control and extreme levels of crime mean a high risk of armed robbery and violent crime.

Pickpocketing

Severe

Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are prevalent in crowded areas, compounded by the general insecurity.

▸ 1 more indicator

Detected human-trafficking victims

0.00 / 100k

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2022

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Fair

Air quality

US AQI 93 · Moderate

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

No data

OpenStreetMap

Weather

October: highs ~36°C · high heat

Open-Meteo

Road safety

31.3 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

No active alerts · 6 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr

Country BaselineGDACS / USGS

CDC travel health notices · 1 for this destination

Watch

Diphtheria in Haiti

Worldwide notices (not specific to this trip): Polio, Dengue, Measles

04 · Institutions

Stability

Caution

Political stability & no terrorism

41/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

0 recorded

100

Country BaselineGlobal Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

32/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Control of corruption

17/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

▸ 3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

11/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Regulatory quality

29/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Voice & accountability

35/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Elevated

Traveller sentiment score

Extremely negative

15/100

Reported feel5Extremely negative

Robbery risk12Severe risk

Pickpocket risk40Severe risk

Traveler sentiment is overwhelmingly negative due to extreme safety concerns, with advisories actively discouraging visits.

No. Port-au-Prince is extremely unsafe for travelers, with government advisories recommending against all travel.

The city faces severe risks from widespread gang violence, kidnapping, and political instability, making it one of the most dangerous destinations. Official advisories from multiple governments strongly warn against any travel due to these pervasive threats.

Recent developments

Oct 2026Haiti postponed elections amid gang violence and political chaos.— Le Monde.fr
Oct 2026The UN accused a former mayor of funding Haiti’s gangs and leaking police information to them.— The Haitian Times
Jul 2026Royal Caribbean extended its suspension of visits to Labadee, Haiti, through 2027 due to lingering safety concerns.— New York Post
Feb 2026Travelers to Haiti face risks of kidnapping, according to the State Department.— USA Today

Common scams

Kidnapping for ransom is a significant threat, often targeting foreigners.
Bribery and extortion by criminal elements and potentially corrupt officials are common.

Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map→

Full briefing

Port-au-Prince is currently facing an extreme security crisis, making it exceptionally dangerous for any traveler. Official advisories from the U.S., UK, and Canada all recommend avoiding all travel due to pervasive crime, kidnapping, and political unrest. The city's crime index is very high, and the homicide rate significantly exceeds the global average.

Recent reports highlight the deepening gang violence, with gangs reportedly being funded by political figures, as reported by The Haitian Times in October 2026. This instability has led to the postponement of elections, as noted by Le Monde.fr in the same month. The risk of kidnapping for ransom is a severe threat, and even major cruise lines have suspended visits to Haitian ports through 2027 due to ongoing safety concerns.

Given these conditions, any travel to Port-au-Prince should be avoided. If travel is absolutely unavoidable, extreme caution is necessary. This includes arranging secure, pre-vetted transportation and accommodation, avoiding any display of wealth, and staying constantly aware of the volatile security situation. The general insecurity means risks of robbery and petty crime are also severe.

Was this Port-au-Prince, Haiti report helpful?

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

6 districts

Our field research rated 6 Port-au-Prince districts for visitors, 4 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Port-au-Prince safety map.

Cité SoleilavoidKnown for extreme gang violence and lawlessness; avoid entirely.

CarrefouravoidSignificant gang activity and high crime rates; avoid.

Champs-de-MarscautionCan be busy and relatively safer after dark, but still requires vigilance.

Pétion-VillecautionGenerally considered one of the more affluent and safer areas, but still subject to broader security concerns.

DelmascautionA large commune with varying safety levels; some areas may be more secure than others, but overall caution is advised.

TabarrecautionMixed safety; some areas may be more stable, but proximity to other high-risk zones warrants caution.

0 safer4 caution2 avoidOpen the district map

07 · After Dark

Is Port-au-Prince safe at night?

Widespread gang control and extreme levels of crime mean a high risk of armed robbery and violent crime.

After dark, be most careful around Cité Soleil, Carrefour, Champs-de-Mars, Pétion-Ville. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.

08 · Questions

Port-au-Prince safety FAQ (2026)

Is Port-au-Prince safe right now (2026)?

No. Port-au-Prince is extremely unsafe for travelers, with government advisories recommending against all travel. The city faces severe risks from widespread gang violence, kidnapping, and political instability, making it one of the most dangerous destinations. Official advisories from multiple governments strongly warn against any travel due to these pervasive threats. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)

Is Port-au-Prince safe for women, families and solo travelers?

Safety is not one number, and this Port-au-Prince 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.

Which areas of Port-au-Prince should tourists avoid?

Field research flags Cité Soleil, Carrefour as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.

What are the most common scams in Port-au-Prince (2026)?

Kidnapping for ransom is a significant threat, often targeting foreigners.
Bribery and extortion by criminal elements and potentially corrupt officials are common.

How does Port-au-Prince compare with other places in Haiti (2026)?

Port-au-Prince ranks #2 of 3 Haiti destinations we've assessed, scoring 13/100. See the Haiti safety overview for the full list.

How is this port-au-prince safety score calculated (2026)?

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.