{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/malawi/blantyre","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:11:13.841Z","place":{"city":"Blantyre","country":"Malawi","countryCode":"MW","lat":-15.78499,"lon":35.00854},"safety":{"score":58,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":53,"confidence":0.89,"caps":[],"databaseScore":59,"travellerSentiment":{"score":53,"label":"Low","summary":"Travelers report feeling unsafe walking alone at night, and there is significant concern about mugging and robbery.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":26,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":55,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":53,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":63,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":70,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-07-03T09:59:53Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/malawi"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/malawi"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":1.77598671180007,"display":"1.8 / 100k","year":"2012","score":88,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":3.2,"display":"3.2%","year":"2014","score":90,"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":20.2,"display":"20.2 / 100k","year":"2021","score":42,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":59.3998253,"display":"59/100","year":"2024","score":59,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":54.4467828,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":34.7249395,"display":"35/100","year":"2024","score":35,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":37.2287788,"display":"37/100","year":"2024","score":37,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":45.6372095,"display":"46/100","year":"2024","score":46,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":54.933872,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":902588,"display":"903k residents","year":null,"score":75,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":52.28,"display":"52.3%","year":"2019","score":51,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":15.11,"display":"15.1%","year":"2019","score":44,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":28,"display":"28.0%","year":"2016","score":44,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":57,"display":"US AQI 57 · Moderate","year":null,"score":87,"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":13,"display":"13 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2011","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":26,"display":"July: highs ~26°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":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"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":26,"display":"26 / 100 (Low)","year":null,"score":26,"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":"Blantyre requires a high degree of caution due to moderate crime levels and potential for opportunistic theft.","summary":"While Blantyre does not face significant conflict or terrorism threats, travelers should be aware of elevated risks related to violent and property crime. Public perception of safety, particularly at night, is low, and corruption can be a concern.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Worry about mugging or robbery is high, and violent crime is perceived as a significant local problem."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Property crime is seen as a local problem, suggesting a risk of pickpocketing and bag-snatching in busy areas."},"safeAreas":["Area 18"],"avoidAreas":["Ndirande","Chilomoni","Bangwe"],"scams":["Bribery attempts by officials","Bogus police or security personnel demanding fines"],"zones":[{"name":"City Centre","level":"caution","note":"Higher risk of petty crime and scams, especially after dark."},{"name":"Ndirande","level":"avoid","note":"Reports indicate higher crime rates and social unrest."},{"name":"Chilomoni","level":"avoid","note":"Considered a high-crime area with potential for unrest."},{"name":"Bangwe","level":"avoid","note":"Areas with higher crime rates and potential for social unrest."},{"name":"South Lunzu","level":"caution","note":"Some reports of crime, exercise caution, especially at night."},{"name":"North Lunzu","level":"caution","note":"Similar to South Lunzu, requires vigilance."},{"name":"Area 18","level":"safe","note":"Generally considered safer, but standard precautions are advised."},{"name":"Old Town","level":"caution","note":"Can experience petty crime; be aware of surroundings."}]}}