{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/sao-tome-and-principe/sao-tome","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T00:10:35.488Z","place":{"city":"São Tomé","country":"São Tomé and Príncipe","countryCode":"ST","lat":0.33756,"lon":6.7299},"safety":{"score":67,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":68,"confidence":0.85,"caps":[],"databaseScore":68,"travellerSentiment":{"score":61,"label":"Mixed","summary":"Recent traveler reports indicate visitors feel moderately safe during daylight but are uneasy after dark, especially in peripheral districts.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":62,"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":61,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":61,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":97,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":69,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":81,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2025-12-10T13:33:54Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sao-tome-and-principe"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":1,"label":"Exercise normal security precautions","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/sao-tome-and-principe"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":3.23189666549062,"display":"3.2 / 100k","year":"2011","score":77,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":11.7,"display":"11.7 / 100k","year":"2021","score":61,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":74.2475128,"display":"74/100","year":"2024","score":74,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":50.8864648,"display":"51/100","year":"2024","score":51,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":51.5825975,"display":"52/100","year":"2024","score":52,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":37.3665708,"display":"37/100","year":"2024","score":37,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":40.8123471,"display":"41/100","year":"2024","score":41,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":59.7319658,"display":"60/100","year":"2024","score":60,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":53300,"display":"53k residents","year":null,"score":90,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":16,"display":"16.0%","year":"2018","score":65,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":58,"display":"US AQI 58 · Moderate","year":null,"score":86,"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":29.099599353,"display":"29 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2019","score":80,"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 · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1,"display":"Level 1 — Exercise normal security precautions","year":null,"score":97,"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":2,"display":"High risk","year":null,"score":45,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":62,"display":"62 / 100 (Mixed)","year":null,"score":62,"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":"Yes — São Tomé is generally safe for visitors, but exercise increased caution due to moderate crime and occasional political unrest.","summary":"The country scores 75/100 on the composite safety index, yet the U.S. State Department has raised its advisory to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) as of March 2026, citing unrest and health risks. Crime is moderate, with pickpocketing common in crowded spots, while violent incidents remain rare.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Armed robbery is rare but can occur in isolated areas; stay in well‑populated districts and avoid carrying large sums of cash."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Pickpocketing and bag‑snatching are common in the central market and near the waterfront promenade."},"safeAreas":["Ilhéu das Rolas","São Tomé City","Cerca do Rio","Praia Inhame","Ilhéu Bom Bom"],"avoidAreas":["Ponta Figueira (isolated residential zone with recent break‑ins)","São Salvador (scam hotspot)"],"scams":["overcharging for taxis or tours","fake currency exchange scams"],"zones":[{"name":"Ilhéu das Rolas","level":"safe","note":"Tourist island with hotels and patrols; petty crime rare and no recent incidents"},{"name":"São Tomé City (Ilha de São Tomé)","level":"caution","note":"Urban hub with pickpocketing reports, especially near markets and nightlife; avoid walking alone after dark"},{"name":"São João","level":"caution","note":"Busy commercial district; recent petty thefts reported, stay alert in crowded areas"},{"name":"Ponta Figueira","level":"avoid","note":"Isolated residential zone with documented break‑ins and gang activity; unsafe after dark"},{"name":"Cerca do Rio","level":"safe","note":"Quiet coastal neighborhood with low crime and active community watch; generally safe for visitors"},{"name":"Praia Inhame","level":"safe","note":"Popular beach area with regular patrols; no recent safety issues reported"},{"name":"São Salvador","level":"caution","note":"Residential area with occasional scams targeting tourists; keep belongings secure"},{"name":"Ilhéu Bom Bom","level":"safe","note":"Small resort island; well‑monitored and low crime; safe for day trips"}]}}