IsMyTripSafe.com

Is Mozambique safe? 🇲🇽

Mexico · Safety report last updated

As of July 2026, Mozambique scores 46/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: caution advised. Mozambique is a moderately safe destination for travelers, but requires a high degree of caution and awareness. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Mozambique 🇲🇽

Mexico · Assessed 28 July 2026

46

/ 100

Caution advised

Safer than ~35% of countries

Score capped at 46 Homicide rate 25/100k. No other indicator can raise the score above this.

What drives this score

Crime45/100CautionHomicide 24.9 / 100k
Sentiment65/100FairCautiously optimistic
Advisories72Good
Stability57Fair
Health76Good

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Good

U.S. Department of State

Level 2

Exercise Increased Caution

Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Advisory summary Many violent crimes take place in Mexico.

Updated Tue, 12 Aug 2025

Full advisory →

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 3

Advises against all-but-essential travel to parts

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel State of Baja California FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tijuana, except: airside transit through Tijuana airport the Cross Border Xpress bridge from the airport linking terminals across the Mexican-US border the federal toll road 1D and Via Rápida through Tijuana to the border FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tecate in Baja California, including roads between Tijuana and Tecate.

Updated 2026-07-23T16:13:10Z

Full advisory →

Government of Canada

Level 2

Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)

Canada's official risk level for Mexico: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).

Updated 2026-07-27T09:23:27.0298079-04:00

Full advisory →

02 · Evidence Signals

Crime

Caution

Homicide rate

24.9 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3Mexico24.9South Africa43.7
21

World Bank Open Data · 2023

Feel safe walking alone after dark

41.3%
37

UN SDG Global Database · 2024

Physical assault (past year)

6.1%
72

UN SDG Global Database · 2024

Robbery / mugging

Moderate

Muggings and robberies occur, with women advised to avoid walking alone on beaches due to increased attacks.

Pickpocketing

Moderate

Opportunistic theft is a risk, particularly at airports where security personnel have been implicated.

4 more indicators

Sexual violence (past year)

1.6%
81

UN SDG Global Database · 2024

Detected human-trafficking victims

0.06 / 100k
91

UN SDG Global Database · 2024

Bribery during public-official contact

14.0%
69

UN SDG Global Database · 2023

Crime seen as a major business constraint

12.3%
69

World Bank Enterprise Surveys · 2010

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Good

Air quality

US AQI 60 · Moderate

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

7 within 15 km · nearest ~12.6 km

OpenStreetMap

Weather

July: highs ~33°C · wet spell

Open-Meteo

Road safety

12.0 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

No active alerts · 9 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr
86

GDACS / USGS

CDC travel health notices · 1 for this destination

Watch

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico

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

04 · Institutions

Stability

Fair

Political stability & no terrorism

54/100
54

World Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

0.09 / million
93

Global Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

37/100
37

World Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

Control of corruption

29/100
29

World Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

47/100
47

World Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

Regulatory quality

52/100
52

World Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

Voice & accountability

51/100
51

World Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Moderate

Traveller sentiment score

Cautiously optimistic

65/100

Reported feel60Cautiously optimistic
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk

While the dossier indicates general friendliness, traveler reports suggest a need for vigilance, particularly concerning police interactions and safety on beaches.

Mozambique is a moderately safe destination for travelers, but requires a high degree of caution and awareness.

While the country generally experiences less hassle than some neighbors, visitors should be aware of risks including petty crime, corruption, and the impact of recent natural disasters. Police interactions can be problematic, and women should exercise particular caution on beaches.

Recent developments

  • Jul 2026Mozambique continues its gradual recovery following severe flooding during the 2025/26 rainy and cyclone season, with ongoing infrastructure repairs and access disruptions in some areas.umhambi.blogspot.com
  • May 2026Mozambique is fighting drugs and cartels.Africa Defense Forum
  • Apr 2026Mozambique police thwarted an attempt by the Sinaloa Cartel to establish a presence in the country.Plataforma Media
  • Feb 2015Mozambique faces safety risks including muggings, robberies, rape, and murder.World Nomads

Common scams

  • Police attempting to extort money from tourists
  • Opportunistic theft by airport security personnel
Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map

Full briefing

Mozambique presents a mixed safety profile for travelers, warranting a verdict of "moderately safe" with a strong emphasis on caution. While the country is known for its warm and friendly people, and generally experiences less hassle than some of its neighbors, significant risks exist that visitors must be aware of. The composite safety index of 46/100, coupled with a homicide rate of 24.9/100k, indicates a level of crime that requires vigilance.

On the ground, travelers should be particularly mindful of petty crime and potential corruption. The dossier highlights that police may attempt to extort money, and advises against trusting them implicitly. It is recommended to always ask for receipts and mention contacting one's embassy. Opportunistic theft, especially at airports, is also a concern, with reports of security personnel pilfering belongings. Women, in particular, should exercise extreme caution on beaches, as attacks have increased in tourist areas, and it is strongly advised never to walk alone.

Recent developments underscore the need for situational awareness. As of July 2026, Mozambique is still recovering from severe flooding that occurred during the 2025/26 rainy season, which caused widespread damage to infrastructure and temporary access disruptions in several provinces. While emergency response has stabilized the situation, recovery is ongoing. Furthermore, there have been reports of Mozambique actively fighting drugs and cartels, with police thwarting attempts by groups like the Sinaloa Cartel to establish a presence. These factors suggest a complex security environment that requires travelers to stay informed about local conditions.

To stay safe in Mozambique, travelers should adopt a cautious approach. This includes minimizing cash on hand, utilizing travel cards, and being prepared for potential police encounters by knowing how to respond assertively and politely. Staying informed about local news and advisories, especially regarding areas affected by recent natural disasters or any reported cartel activity, is crucial. Finally, heeding specific advice, such as avoiding walking alone on beaches, is essential for personal safety.

IsMyTripSafe.com

Not legal or medical advice

Report generated 28 July 2026

Sources: U.S. State Dept · UK FCDO · World Bank · WGI · UNODC · WHO · UN SDG · Global Terrorism Database · Numbeo · OpenStreetMap · Open-Meteo · CDC. Composite index recomputed at request time.

Links:

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

6 districts

Our field research rated 6 Mozambique districts for visitors: 1 safer, 3 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Mozambique safety map.

TijuanaavoidOfficial advisories recommend against all but essential travel due to high levels of violence and organized crime.

Chiapas (State, excluding Palenque, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, San Cristóbal)avoidOfficial advisories recommend avoiding non-essential travel due to high levels of violence and organized crime.

Cancun (Hotel Zone)cautionGenerally safe for tourists, but be aware of petty crime and scams, especially at night.

Mexico City (Centro Histórico)cautionHigh tourist traffic means increased risk of pickpocketing and scams; exercise vigilance.

Guanajuato (State)cautionOfficial advisories recommend increased caution due to organized crime, with specific areas to avoid.

Yucatán (State)saferGenerally considered safe with 'Exercise Normal Precautions' advisory level.

07 · After Dark

Is Mozambique safe at night?

41% of people in Mexico say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2024).

Muggings and robberies occur, with women advised to avoid walking alone on beaches due to increased attacks.

After dark, be most careful around Tijuana, Chiapas (State, excluding Palenque, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, San Cristóbal), Cancun (Hotel Zone), Mexico City (Centro Histórico). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.

08 · Trip Profiles

Score by traveller type

Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Mozambique's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.

Solo female travellerCrime +35% weight46
Solo travellerCrime +23% weight46
Family with kidsCrime +19% weight · Health & Air +12% weight46
Nightlife-focused tripCrime +28% weight46
Travellers 65+Crime +13% weight · Health & Air +16% weight · Stability +4% weight46
Business tripCrime +14% weight · Stability +6% weight46

09 · Questions

Mozambique safety FAQ

Is Mozambique safe for tourists right now?

Mozambique is a moderately safe destination for travelers, but requires a high degree of caution and awareness. While the country generally experiences less hassle than some neighbors, visitors should be aware of risks including petty crime, corruption, and the impact of recent natural disasters. Police interactions can be problematic, and women should exercise particular caution on beaches. (Assessed 28 July 2026.)

Which areas of Mozambique should tourists avoid?

Field research flags Tijuana, Chiapas (State, excluding Palenque, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, San Cristóbal) as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.

What are the most common scams in Mozambique?

  • Police attempting to extort money from tourists
  • Opportunistic theft by airport security personnel

How does Mozambique compare with other places in Mexico?

Mozambique ranks #1 of 9 Mexico destinations we've assessed, scoring 46/100. See the Mexico safety overview for the full list.

How is this Mozambique safety score calculated?

The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.

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Browse the Mexico safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: mozambique.json (CC BY 4.0).