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Is Langkawit safe? 🇲🇾

Malaysia · Safety report last updated 13 October 2026

As of October 2026, Langkawit scores 85/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — very safe. Langkawi is generally safe for visitors, with low crime rates and a high sense of personal security. The main risks for visitors are tourist-targeted scams.

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Langkawit 🇲🇾

Malaysia · Assessed 13 October 2026

/ 100

Yes — very safe

Safer than ~92% of countries

District map

What drives this score

Crime85/100GoodCrime index 48.0 / 100

Sentiment92/100GoodVery Positive

Advisories100Good

Stability75Good

Health72Good

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Good

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 3

Advises against all travel to parts of the country

“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel Eastern Sabah coastal islands FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all islands and dive sites off the coast of eastern Sabah from Sandakan to Tawau, including Lankayan Island, due to the threat of kidnapping.”

Updated 2026-10-07T11:05:53Z

Full advisory →

Government of Canada

Level 1

Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)

“Canada's official risk level for Malaysia: exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories).”

Updated 2026-10-09T10:10:36.7991886-04:00

Full advisory →

02 · Evidence Signals

Crime

Good

Mugging & robbery risk

Low risk

City SignalCity Web Research

Pickpocketing & theft risk

Low risk

City SignalCity Web Research

Visitor safety sentiment

90 / 100 (Very Positive)

City SignalCity Web Research

Crime index (crowdsourced)

48.0 / 100

City SignalNumbeo Crime Index

Homicide rate

0.7 / 100k

Country BaselineWorld Bank Open Data · 2023

Feel safe walking alone after dark

90.5%

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2021

Physical assault (past year)

No data

—

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database

Robbery / mugging

Low

Robbery is uncommon, with a very low national homicide rate and crime index.

Pickpocketing

Low

Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are rare, but vigilance is advised in busy markets or tourist spots.

▸ 3 more indicators

Detected human-trafficking victims

0.41 / 100k

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Bribery during public-official contact

13.0%

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2020

Crime seen as a major business constraint

0.3%

100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Enterprise Surveys · 2015

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Good

Air quality

US AQI 68 · Moderate

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

20 beds / 10k · country avg

WHO Global Health Observatory

Weather

October: highs ~32°C · wet spell

Open-Meteo

Road safety

13.9 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

No active alerts · 1 quake ≥M4.5 past yr

Country BaselineGDACS / USGS

CDC travel health notices · none for this destination

Worldwide notices (not specific to this trip): Polio, Dengue, Measles

04 · Institutions

Stability

Good

Political stability & no terrorism

72/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

0 recorded

100

Country BaselineGlobal Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

65/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Control of corruption

59/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

▸ 3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

72/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Regulatory quality

67/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Voice & accountability

56/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Stable

Traveller sentiment score

Very Positive

92/100

Reported feel90Very Positive

Robbery risk92Low risk

Pickpocket risk96Low risk

Over 90% of people feel safe walking alone after dark, indicating a high level of perceived safety among residents and visitors.

Langkawi is generally safe for visitors, with low crime rates and a high sense of personal security.

While Malaysia as a whole has regional advisories, Langkawi itself is considered safe with very low crime. Travelers should be aware of potential health concerns and exercise normal precautions.

Common scams

Overcharging for goods or services, especially in tourist areas.

Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map→

Full briefing

Langkawi offers a safe environment for travelers, with official advisories indicating normal security precautions are sufficient for the island. The composite safety index is high, and the local crime rate is very low, with a national homicide rate significantly lower than many Western countries. Most visitors report feeling safe, even when walking alone after dark.

While Langkawi itself is secure, it's important to note that some parts of Malaysia have regional advisories due to kidnapping threats, particularly in eastern Sabah. These do not directly impact Langkawi, but travelers should remain aware of the broader country context. Health is a consideration, with global dengue and polio alerts in effect; travelers should ensure vaccinations are up-to-date and take precautions against mosquito bites.

Practical safety on Langkawi involves standard travel awareness. While serious crime is rare, be mindful of potential overcharging in tourist areas and keep valuables secure. The island experiences a wet spell in October, so be prepared for rain. Overall, Langkawi presents a low-risk destination for personal safety.

Was this Langkawit, Malaysia report helpful?

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

6 districts

Our field research rated 6 Langkawit districts for visitors: 6 safer. See them plotted on the Langkawit safety map.

KuahsaferMain town with good infrastructure and low crime.

Pantai CenangsaferPopular tourist beach area, generally safe with high visitor presence.

Pantai TengahsaferQuieter beach area, safe for visitors.

Ulu MelakasaferRural area, safe with a focus on nature and local culture.

Datai BaysaferExclusive resort area, very safe with high security.

Air HangatsaferKnown for hot springs, generally safe for tourists.

6 safer0 caution0 avoidOpen the district map

07 · After Dark

Is Langkawit safe at night?

91% of people in Malaysia say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2021).

Robbery is uncommon, with a very low national homicide rate and crime index.

No specific districts were flagged as no-go areas after dark, but the usual night-time rules apply: stay in lit, populated areas and keep your phone out of sight.

08 · Questions

Langkawit safety FAQ (2026)

Is Langkawit safe right now (2026)?

Langkawi is generally safe for visitors, with low crime rates and a high sense of personal security. While Malaysia as a whole has regional advisories, Langkawi itself is considered safe with very low crime. Travelers should be aware of potential health concerns and exercise normal precautions. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)

Is Langkawit safe for women, families and solo travelers?

Safety is not one number, and this Langkawit report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.

Which areas of Langkawit should tourists avoid?

No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.

What are the most common scams in Langkawit (2026)?

Overcharging for goods or services, especially in tourist areas.

How does Langkawit compare with other places in Malaysia (2026)?

Langkawit ranks #2 of 9 Malaysia destinations we've assessed, scoring 85/100. See the Malaysia safety overview for the full list.

How is this langkawit safety score calculated (2026)?

The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.