{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/papua-new-guinea/lae","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:21:27.535Z","place":{"city":"Lae","country":"Papua New Guinea","countryCode":"PG","lat":-6.72333,"lon":146.99611},"safety":{"score":35,"level":"CAUTION","answer":"Caution advised","saferThanPctOfCountries":20,"confidence":0.85,"caps":[{"max":44,"reason":"Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel"}],"databaseScore":36,"travellerSentiment":{"score":32,"label":"Very negative","summary":"The high crime index and widespread reports of unrest and corruption suggest a very negative perception of safety for visitors.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":15,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":34,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":58,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":39,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":32,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":30,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":59,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":67,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all-but-essential travel to parts","updated":"2026-05-29T15:27:29Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/papua-new-guinea"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":3,"label":"Avoid non-essential travel","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/papua-new-guinea"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":9.34037927179888,"display":"9.3 / 100k","year":"2010","score":48,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":12.5,"display":"12.5%","year":"2015","score":69,"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":14.9,"display":"14.9 / 100k","year":"2021","score":53,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":54.7251618,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":47.1316693,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":31.7152136,"display":"32/100","year":"2024","score":32,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":33.8321749,"display":"34/100","year":"2024","score":34,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":45.3936104,"display":"45/100","year":"2024","score":45,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":51.1357339,"display":"51/100","year":"2024","score":51,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":76255,"display":"76k residents","year":null,"score":88,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"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":54,"display":"54.0%","year":"2021","score":11,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":49,"display":"US AQI 49 · 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":6.186932963,"display":"6 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":30,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"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 · 50 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":65,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":3,"display":"Level 3 — Avoid non-essential travel","year":null,"score":30,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":2,"display":"High risk","year":null,"score":45,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":2,"display":"High risk","year":null,"score":45,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":15,"display":"15 / 100 (Very negative)","year":null,"score":15,"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":"No — Lae is not considered safe for travelers, and travel to Papua New Guinea is strongly advised against.","summary":"Official government advisories from Canada and the UK recommend avoiding non-essential travel to Papua New Guinea due to significant safety concerns. Crime rates are high, and the rule of law and control of corruption are weak, contributing to an unsafe environment for visitors.","robberyRisk":{"level":"High","note":"High crime rates and weak rule of law indicate a significant risk of robbery and violent crime for visitors."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Crowdsourced crime index is very high, suggesting a substantial risk of pickpocketing and bag-snatching, particularly in public areas."},"safeAreas":["University of Technology Area"],"avoidAreas":["Areas outside of well-lit, populated zones after dark","Any areas experiencing protests or civil unrest"],"scams":["Bribery during interactions with public officials is common.","Be aware of potential scams related to corruption."],"zones":[{"name":"Lae City Centre","level":"caution","note":"High crime rates and petty theft are concerns; avoid after dark."},{"name":"Malahang","level":"caution","note":"Generally residential but can experience opportunistic crime; stay aware."},{"name":"Butibam","level":"caution","note":"Can be subject to tribal tensions and associated risks; exercise vigilance."},{"name":"Lae Port Area","level":"caution","note":"Industrial and port areas can attract petty crime; be aware of surroundings."},{"name":"University of Technology Area","level":"safe","note":"Generally considered safer due to presence of students and staff, but usual precautions apply."},{"name":"Voco Point","level":"caution","note":"Can be prone to opportunistic crime; avoid isolated areas."}]}}