{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/iraq/najaf","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:14:01.018Z","place":{"city":"Najaf","country":"Iraq","countryCode":"IQ","lat":32.02594,"lon":44.34625},"safety":{"score":18,"level":"HIGH_RISK","answer":"Elevated risk — reconsider","saferThanPctOfCountries":6,"confidence":0.88,"caps":[{"max":18,"reason":"Level 4 advisory — \"Do Not Travel\""}],"databaseScore":18,"travellerSentiment":{"score":38,"label":"Very Negative","summary":"Traveler sentiment is extremely negative due to widespread security warnings and reports of political unrest and demonstrations.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":20,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":34,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":42,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":38,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":0,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":35,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":62,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":4,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-07-22T16:11:21Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":4,"label":"Avoid all travel","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/iraq"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":9.46375217111484,"display":"9.5 / 100k","year":"2013","score":48,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":1.4,"display":"1.4%","year":"2011","score":97,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":6.529029062771277,"display":"6.5 / million","year":"2021","score":49,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":21.5,"display":"21.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":39,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":30.6332522,"display":"31/100","year":"2024","score":31,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":33.5897975,"display":"34/100","year":"2024","score":34,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":23.4634646,"display":"23/100","year":"2024","score":23,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":29.9154103,"display":"30/100","year":"2024","score":30,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":38.6096174,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":38.9686214,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":482576,"display":"483k residents","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":48.9,"display":"48.9%","year":"2018","score":47,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":1.46,"display":"1.5%","year":"2018","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.02,"display":"0.02 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":70,"display":"US AQI 70 · Moderate","year":null,"score":80,"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":10.624942678,"display":"11 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2018","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":50,"display":"July: highs ~50°C · dangerous heat","year":null,"score":45,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 4 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":4,"display":"Level 4 — Avoid all travel","year":null,"score":0,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":2,"display":"High risk","year":null,"score":45,"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":20,"display":"20 / 100 (Very Negative)","year":null,"score":20,"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":"No, Najaf is not safe for travelers due to significant security risks and official government advisories.","summary":"All major government advisories strongly recommend against travel to Iraq, including Najaf, due to ongoing security concerns. While Najaf is a significant religious site, the risk of conflict, terrorism, and general instability remains high.","robberyRisk":{"level":"High","note":"While specific street crime data for Najaf is limited, the general high-risk environment in Iraq suggests a significant risk of robbery, particularly if perceived as a tourist."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching can occur in crowded religious sites and markets, though the broader security situation overshadows this risk."},"safeAreas":[],"avoidAreas":["Najaf Governorate (surrounding rural areas): Higher risk due to potential for conflict and less infrastructure."],"scams":["Overcharging by taxi drivers or unofficial guides.","Requests for money or donations from individuals claiming to be in distress."],"zones":[{"name":"Al-Qadisiya District","level":"caution","note":"Generally considered safer, but still advise against after dark."},{"name":"Al-Hananah District","level":"caution","note":"Tourist areas may be monitored, but general crime risk is present."},{"name":"Old City Center","level":"caution","note":"High foot traffic can increase petty crime risk; be aware of surroundings."},{"name":"Najaf Governorate (surrounding rural areas)","level":"avoid","note":"Higher risk due to potential for conflict and less infrastructure."}]}}