{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/kazakhstan/karaganda","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:16:28.092Z","place":{"city":"Karaganda","country":"Kazakhstan","countryCode":"KZ","lat":49.80187,"lon":73.10211},"safety":{"score":73,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":77,"confidence":0.87,"caps":[],"databaseScore":72,"travellerSentiment":{"score":79,"label":"Cautiously positive with caveats","summary":"Travelers report mixed experiences—some express concerns about political instability and potential racism, while others describe two-week trips as 'one of the best countries' visited. The 64% who feel safe walking alone after dark reflects moderate confidence. No recent traveler incidents specific to Karaganda in July 2026; sentiment is cautious but not alarmed.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":62,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":69,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":79,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":97,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":65,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":79,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-04-02T12:24:10Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kazakhstan"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":1,"label":"Exercise normal security precautions","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/kazakhstan"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":2.55058633787163,"display":"2.6 / 100k","year":"2022","score":82,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":2,"display":"2.0%","year":"2019","score":94,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":12.2,"display":"12.2 / 100k","year":"2021","score":60,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":61.0644717,"display":"61/100","year":"2024","score":61,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":50.3980061,"display":"50/100","year":"2024","score":50,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":46.4968168,"display":"46/100","year":"2024","score":46,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":54.1941626,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":55.6049145,"display":"56/100","year":"2024","score":56,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":42.5722351,"display":"43/100","year":"2024","score":43,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":497777,"display":"498k residents","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":64,"display":"64.0%","year":"2024","score":65,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.04,"display":"0.04 / 100k","year":"2024","score":91,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":21.05,"display":"21.1%","year":"2016","score":56,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":52,"display":"US AQI 52 · Moderate","year":null,"score":89,"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":65.426154663,"display":"65 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2020","score":92,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":36,"display":"July: highs ~36°C · high heat","year":null,"score":80,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 1 quake ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1,"display":"Level 1 — Exercise normal security precautions","year":null,"score":97,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":92,"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":62,"display":"62 / 100 (Cautiously positive with caveats)","year":null,"score":62,"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":"Yes — Karaganda is reasonably safe for visitors. The city is safer than most of Kazakhstan's larger centers and has no specific travel advisory against it; exercise standard urban precautions.","summary":"Karaganda's composite safety index of 74/100 places it in the 'Safe' category, with low violent crime (2.6/100k homicide rate) and zero recorded terrorism deaths. Institutional weaknesses—corruption, rule of law, and police accountability—are the primary concerns, alongside petty crime and police shakedowns. The city itself is not singled out as a high-risk zone in traveler reports or government advisories.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Homicide rate of 2.6/100k is below global average. Wikivoyage notes violent crime is comparable to Eastern European countries; muggings are infrequent in smaller towns but possible if you travel to remote areas or at night. Tourists in central commercial zones face minimal risk."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Crowdsourced crime index of 45.2/100 and typical Central Asian city patterns suggest moderate risk in crowded markets, public transport, and busy streets. Secure valuables, use inside pockets, and avoid displaying phones or cameras ostentatiously."},"safeAreas":["Central District","Nurly Zhol"],"avoidAreas":["Industrial Periphery after dark","Remote residential microdistricts at night"],"scams":["Fake airport staff or border officers claiming mandatory special entry fees — refuse and contact your embassy","Unmetered taxis overcharging foreigners; use registered taxis, Yandex, or hotel-arranged transport","Police falsely accusing foreigners of petty crimes and demanding 1,000–5,000 tenge 'fines' — stay calm, request official documentation, and contact your embassy","Restaurant bill padding or inflated prices for tourists; agree on menu prices before ordering"],"zones":[{"name":"Central District / Центральный","level":"safe","note":"Downtown business and commercial core; hotels, main shops, restaurants; safe day and evening"},{"name":"Nurly Zhol","level":"safe","note":"Modern development zone with new offices and infrastructure; well-maintained and monitored"},{"name":"October District / Октябрьский","level":"caution","note":"Soviet-era residential area; safe during daylight hours; avoid isolated areas after dark"},{"name":"Kazakhstan District / Казахстан","level":"caution","note":"Residential neighborhood; generally safe by day with normal precautions; caution advised at night"},{"name":"Bukhar Zhyrau District","level":"caution","note":"Residential area east of center; daytime safe, limit night travel to main streets"},{"name":"Industrial Periphery (North & East)","level":"avoid","note":"Mining and industrial legacy zone; minimal tourist facilities; higher crime risk, avoid after dark"}]}}