{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/malawi/lilongwe","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T00:07:47.398Z","place":{"city":"Lilongwe","country":"Malawi","countryCode":"MW","lat":-13.96692,"lon":33.78725},"safety":{"score":65,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":65,"confidence":0.8,"caps":[],"databaseScore":66,"travellerSentiment":{"score":60,"label":"Mixed","summary":"Recent traveler forums describe feeling ‘cautiously comfortable’ during daylight but uneasy after sunset, especially near the Old Town market","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":58,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":58,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":63,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":60,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":63,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":71,"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":"2026-06-23T12:32:54.3257171-04:00","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":"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":50,"display":"US AQI 50 · Good","year":null,"score":90,"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":23,"display":"23 within 15 km · nearest ~1.1 km","year":null,"score":95,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Wildfire (green)","year":null,"score":96,"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"}],"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":[{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Malawi","distanceKm":372}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Lilongwe is generally safe for visitors, but exercise a high degree of caution due to petty crime and occasional civil unrest.","summary":"The composite safety index of 67 reflects moderate risk; homicide and terrorism are low, yet governance scores are weak and visitors report feeling only moderately secure, especially at night.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Mugging and armed robbery are rare for tourists but can occur in isolated incidents, particularly in peripheral neighborhoods after dark"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Pickpocketing and bag‑snatching are common in busy marketplaces, bus stations and near the Ilhla ferry terminal"},"safeAreas":["Area 18","Chinika"],"avoidAreas":["Lingadzi (high crime reports including assaults)","Mphandula (market area prone to pickpocketing)"],"scams":["‘Mwandikumbukira?’ tricksters swindling victims with false promises of remembrance","Overcharging at markets and tourist sites","Fake charity collections posing as humanitarian aid"],"zones":[{"name":"Old Town","level":"caution","note":"Petty crime common day and night; stay alert, avoid isolated alleys after dark"},{"name":"Area 18","level":"safe","note":"Quiet residential zone; low foot traffic at night, minimal reported incidents"},{"name":"Chinika","level":"safe","note":"Commercial hub with police presence; daytime activity safe, nighttime deserted"},{"name":"Mphandula","level":"caution","note":"Market area bustling but prone to pickpocketing; keep belongings secure"},{"name":"Lingadzi","level":"avoid","note":"High crime reports including assaults; avoid after dark and limit daytime visits"},{"name":"Sadza","level":"caution","note":"Bus terminal zone sees frequent bag snatching; stay vigilant"}]}}