IsMyTripSafe.com

Fast. Reliable. Free.

Made for travelers, by travelers

Personalize report nowTailor this report to you.Next: age, gender, group size preference…Next: the latest news and insightsNext: one click, 5 seconds, no costStart now

Is Baghdad safe? 🇮🇶

Iraq · Safety report last updated

As of October 2026, Baghdad scores 20/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. No. Baghdad remains extremely dangerous for travelers due to persistent terrorism, crime, and arbitrary detention risks. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (high risk).

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Baghdad 🇮🇶

Iraq · Assessed 13 October 2026

20

/ 100

Elevated risk — reconsider

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

Crime47/100CautionCrime index 53.2 / 100 · city-level
Sentiment36/100ElevatedVery negative
Advisories0Elevated
Stability37Elevated
Health62Fair

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Elevated

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 3

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 Federal Iraq FCDO advises against all travel to: The parts of Anbar province which are west of, but not including Ramadi City Diyala province except for Baqubah City Kirkuk province Ninawa province Salah al-Din province Jurf al-Sakr town in Babil province Sadr City, part of Baghdad province Within 5km of areas that border Iran in Wasit, Maysan and Basra provinces Within 5km of Iraq’s borders with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: The remainder of Al-Muthanna province Al-Qadasiyah province The remainder of Anbar province Babil province (except Jurf al-Sakr town) Baghdad province (except Sadr City) The remainder of Basra province, including Highways 1 and 8 and the Safwan-Kuwait border crossing Dhi Qar Province Karbala Province The remainder of Maysan province The remainder of Najaf province The remainder of Wasit province Baqubah City in Diyala province The road sections of Highway 34 between Baghdad and Baqubah, and Highway 2 between Baqubah and Erbil Kurdistan Region of Iraq FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.”

Updated 2026-10-07T13:26:28Z

Full advisory →

Government of Canada

Level 4

Avoid all travel

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

Updated 2026-10-06T09:31:28.6364465-04:00

Full advisory →

02 · Evidence Signals

Crime

Caution

Feeling safe walking alone at night

47 / 100
60

City SignalNumbeo (city survey)

Feeling safe walking alone in daylight

59 / 100
67

City SignalNumbeo (city survey)

Urban scale factor

7.2M residents
43

City SignalCity Geocoding

Crime index (crowdsourced)

53.2 / 100 · city-level
50

City SignalNumbeo Crime Index

Homicide rate

9.5 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Iraq9.5Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
48

Country BaselineWorld Bank Open Data · 2013

Feel safe walking alone after dark

48.9%
47

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2018

Physical assault (past year)

1.5%
92

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2018

Robbery / mugging

High

Armed robbery and carjacking occur frequently, particularly at night and in southern and eastern districts like Sadr City and New Baghdad.

Pickpocketing

Moderate

Pickpocketing and bag-snatching happen in crowded markets such as Al-Shorja and public transport hubs.

▸ 2 more indicators

Detected human-trafficking victims

0.02 / 100k
92

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2022

Crime seen as a major business constraint

1.4%
97

Country BaselineWorld Bank Enterprise Surveys · 2011

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Fair

Air quality

US AQI 96 · Moderate

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

11 beds / 10k · country avg

WHO Global Health Observatory

Weather

October: highs ~40°C · extreme heat

Open-Meteo

Road safety

21.5 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

No active alerts · 7 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr
94

Country BaselineGDACS / USGS

CDC travel health notices · none for this destination

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

04 · Institutions

Stability

Elevated

Political stability & no terrorism

33/100
33

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

6.5 / million
49

Country BaselineGlobal Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

36/100
36

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Control of corruption

23/100
23

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

▸ 3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

32/100
32

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Regulatory quality

38/100
38

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Voice & accountability

43/100
43

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Elevated

Traveller sentiment score

Very negative

36/100

Reported feel15Very negative
Robbery risk34High risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk

Traveler reports indicate widespread fear of violence and arbitrary detention, with many describing Baghdad as unsafe for foreigners even during daylight hours.

No. Baghdad remains extremely dangerous for travelers due to persistent terrorism, crime, and arbitrary detention risks.

The city faces high levels of violent crime, terrorism, and kidnapping targeting foreigners, compounded by weak rule of law and frequent security alerts. Visitors are at risk of robbery, assault, and detention without clear cause, especially outside heavily fortified zones.

Recent developments

  • Oct 2026American travel vlogger and team expelled from Baghdad 'for their safety' after a night out with locals— The New Region
  • Oct 2026Australian engineer Robert Pether released after detention in Baghdad on unspecified charges— ABC News
  • Oct 2026Four individuals detained over alleged crime-scene tampering in Baghdad— Shafaq News
  • Sep 2026Graduates injured during a violent protest over employment conditions in Baghdad— Kurdistan 24

Common scams

  • Fake police or militia checkpoints demanding bribes
  • Overcharging by unlicensed taxi drivers
  • Invitations to meals or events leading to robbery or detention
Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map→

Full briefing

Baghdad remains one of the most hazardous destinations for travelers due to ongoing threats of terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime. Foreigners are particularly vulnerable to arbitrary detention, as seen in the October 2026 expulsion of an American travel vlogger and team after a night out with locals, and the release of Australian engineer Robert Pether following unspecified charges. Security alerts from the U.S. Embassy in April and March 2026 continue to warn of hotel terror attacks and heightened risks in public areas. Crime is widespread, with armed robbery and carjacking common in districts like Sadr City and New Baghdad, especially after dark. Pickpocketing occurs in crowded areas such as Al-Shorja market. Travelers should avoid all non-essential movement, refrain from accepting invitations from strangers, and never travel without professional security if movement is unavoidable. The International Zone offers relative safety but is not immune to risk. Given the Level 4 advisories from multiple governments and the city’s composite safety index of 20/100, Baghdad is not suitable for tourism or casual travel under any circumstances.

Was this Baghdad, Iraq report helpful?

IsMyTripSafe.com

Not legal or medical advice

Report generated 13 October 2026

Sources: U.S. State Dept · UK FCDO · World Bank · WGI · UNODC · WHO · UN SDG · Global Terrorism Database · Numbeo · OpenStreetMap · Open-Meteo · CDC. Composite index recomputed at request time.

Links:

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

8 districts

Our field research rated 8 Baghdad districts for visitors: 1 safer, 5 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Baghdad safety map.

Sadr CityavoidDensely populated northeastern district; frequent site of protests, militia activity, and sporadic violence; explicitly advised against by FCDO.

Al-DoraavoidSouthern industrial zone; history of insurgent activity and IED attacks; limited foreign presence and poor infrastructure increase risk.

Green Zone (International Zone)cautionHeavily fortified government and diplomatic area; access restricted, but relatively secure from insurgent attacks though checkpoints and occasional protests pose risks.

KarradacautionCommercial and residential district with hotels and shops; prone to petty crime and occasional explosive threats, especially after dark.

Al-RashidcautionCentral district along the Tigris; includes historic sites but sees frequent checkpoints and occasional militant targeting.

Al-A'adhamiyacautionHistoric northern district with Sunni majority; generally stable but vulnerable to sectarian tensions and occasional protests near mosques.

Al-KarkhcautionWestern bank of the Tigris; mixed-use area with government offices and markets; petty crime and traffic hazards common, especially at night.

Al-MansoursaferAffluent western Baghdad neighborhood with lower crime density; popular with expats and locals for dining, generally stable by day.

1 safer5 caution2 avoidOpen the district map

07 · After Dark

Is Baghdad safe at night?

49% of people in Iraq say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2018).

Armed robbery and carjacking occur frequently, particularly at night and in southern and eastern districts like Sadr City and New Baghdad.

After dark, be most careful around Sadr City, Al-Dora, Green Zone (International Zone), Karrada. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.

08 · Questions

Baghdad safety FAQ (2026)

Is Baghdad safe right now (2026)?

No. Baghdad remains extremely dangerous for travelers due to persistent terrorism, crime, and arbitrary detention risks. The city faces high levels of violent crime, terrorism, and kidnapping targeting foreigners, compounded by weak rule of law and frequent security alerts. Visitors are at risk of robbery, assault, and detention without clear cause, especially outside heavily fortified zones. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)

Is Baghdad safe for women, families and solo travelers?

Safety is not one number, and this Baghdad 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 Baghdad should tourists avoid?

Field research flags Sadr City, Al-Dora as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.

What are the most common scams in Baghdad (2026)?

  • Fake police or militia checkpoints demanding bribes
  • Overcharging by unlicensed taxi drivers
  • Invitations to meals or events leading to robbery or detention

How does Baghdad compare with other places in Iraq (2026)?

Baghdad ranks #1 of 4 Iraq destinations we've assessed, scoring 20/100. See the Iraq safety overview for the full list.

How is this baghdad safety score calculated (2026)?

The score blends 14+ 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.

More Iraq reports

3 reports

Nearby destinations

4 reports

Similar safety profile

4 reports

Keep exploring

Raw data: baghdad.json (CC BY 4.0).