{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/kiribati/south-tarawa","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T00:02:55.922Z","place":{"city":"South Tarawa","country":"Kiribati","countryCode":"KI","lat":1.3490778,"lon":173.0386512},"safety":{"score":73,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":77,"confidence":0.8,"caps":[],"databaseScore":71,"travellerSentiment":{"score":84,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveler posts describe feeling safe during daylight, though many note limited lighting and occasional street‑dog encounters after sunset","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":78,"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":53,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":84,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":97,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":78,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":89,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":1,"label":"Exercise Normal Precautions","updated":"Mon, 02 Dec 2024","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/kiribati-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-04-22T11:01:03Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kiribati"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":1,"label":"Exercise normal security precautions","updated":"2026-06-19T15:17:06.1395823-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/kiribati"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":7.12479070927292,"display":"7.1 / 100k","year":"2012","score":56,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":6.2,"display":"6.2 / 100k","year":"2021","score":79,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":87.0442125,"display":"87/100","year":"2024","score":87,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":70.4924953,"display":"70/100","year":"2024","score":70,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":55.436614,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":42.8957403,"display":"43/100","year":"2024","score":43,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":46.9544291,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":73.877803,"display":"74/100","year":"2024","score":74,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":54.62,"display":"54.6%","year":"2018","score":54,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":7.5,"display":"7.5%","year":"2018","score":66,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":64,"display":"64.0%","year":"2021","score":1,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":42,"display":"US AQI 42 · Good","year":null,"score":91,"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":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":29,"display":"July: highs ~29°C · no weather extremes","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1,"display":"Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions · 2 govts","year":null,"score":97,"source":"US State Dept · Canada"}],"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 — South Tarawa is one of the safest urban centers in the Pacific for visitors.","summary":"Crime in South Tarawa is low to moderate, with petty theft and occasional alcohol‑related scuffles being the most common visitor concerns; violent crime and terrorism are virtually absent, and official travel advisories rate the area as normal‑precautions only.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Mugging and armed robbery are rare, but isolated incidents have been reported near the Betio waterfront after dark"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag‑snatching occur most often in crowded markets and on public transport in South Tarawa"},"safeAreas":["Bikenibeu","Tungaru Central Hospital vicinity","Tawara Village","Nawerewere"],"avoidAreas":["Betio waterfront","Betio"],"scams":["overpriced boat tours and reef‑fishing excursions sold by unofficial operators","fake currency exchanges targeting tourists in Betio market"],"zones":[{"name":"Betio","level":"caution","note":"caution due to higher petty crime and unexploded ordnance risk after dark"},{"name":"Bairiki","level":"caution","note":"caution for petty theft and limited medical access at night"},{"name":"Bikenibeu","level":"safe","note":"safe residential area with better lighting and police presence"},{"name":"Tungaru Central Hospital vicinity","level":"safe","note":"safe due to medical facility presence and regular patrols"},{"name":"Betio waterfront","level":"avoid","note":"avoid due to unexploded ordnance reports and higher petty crime incidents"},{"name":"Bairiki market area","level":"caution","note":"caution for crowded scams and occasional street altercations"},{"name":"Tawara Village","level":"safe","note":"safe residential enclave with low crime and active community watch"},{"name":"Nawerewere","level":"safe","note":"safe near hospital and main road with regular police patrols"}]}}