{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/south-africa/port-elizabeth","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:42:51.576Z","place":{"city":"Port Elizabeth","country":"South Africa","countryCode":"ZA","lat":-33.96109,"lon":25.61494},"safety":{"score":49,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":39,"confidence":0.87,"caps":[],"databaseScore":50,"travellerSentiment":{"score":44,"label":"Cautiously manageable","summary":"Travelers report Port Elizabeth as manageable for those who are alert and plan carefully. One recent Reddit user noted it is 'more chilled on the violent crime front' compared to Johannesburg; however, only 37% of residents report feeling safe after dark, and travelers consistently emphasize the need for alertness and deliberate precautions.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":38,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":34,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":43,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":44,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":62,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":67,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-07-21T14:07:51Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/south-africa"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":43.7202551331462,"display":"43.7 / 100k","year":"2022","score":7,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":40.4,"display":"40.4%","year":"2007","score":26,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.1235572394897154,"display":"0.12 / million","year":"2021","score":91,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":24.5,"display":"24.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":33,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":55.3527432,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":57.2693915,"display":"57/100","year":"2024","score":57,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":43.9726469,"display":"44/100","year":"2024","score":44,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":46.9478119,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":53.9146724,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":67.4781439,"display":"67/100","year":"2024","score":67,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":1050078,"display":"1.1M residents","year":null,"score":74,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":37,"display":"37.0%","year":"2022","score":30,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.03,"display":"0.03 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":18,"display":"18.0%","year":"2019","score":62,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":56,"display":"US AQI 56 · Moderate","year":null,"score":87,"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":22.512779725,"display":"23 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2010","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":23,"display":"July: highs ~23°C · strong winds","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts","year":null,"score":100,"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"},{"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":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":38,"display":"38 / 100 (Cautiously manageable)","year":null,"score":38,"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—Port Elizabeth has serious violent crime and high robbery risk; visitors require vigilant planning, secure transport, and avoidance of night travel to manage safety.","summary":"Port Elizabeth is manageable with precautions but carries genuine danger. Violent crime, robbery, and mugging are common concerns, especially after dark and outside tourist zones. Travelers who stay alert, use secure transport, avoid night driving, and stick to established areas can reduce risk substantially, but this is not a carefree destination.","robberyRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Mugging and opportunistic robbery are common, especially after dark and outside well-trafficked areas; 83% of locals report concern about robbery risk."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing occurs but is not the primary crime risk; airports and crowded tourist areas are hotspots; vigilance required but threat is lower than violent robbery."},"safeAreas":["Beachfront","Walmer","Summerstrand"],"avoidAreas":["Central (especially after dark)","Unspecified neighborhoods outside of tourist zones (especially after dark)"],"scams":["Pickpocketing with distraction tactics, especially in airports and crowded areas","Fake police demanding roadside fines","Taxi overcharging and unofficial taxis","Unofficial guides offering tours","Drink spiking at bars or venues","Card skimming via public Wi-Fi"],"zones":[{"name":"Central","level":"caution","note":"Can experience cleanliness issues and potential for opportunistic crime."},{"name":"Beachfront","level":"safe","note":"Generally well-trafficked and considered safe for visitors, especially during the day."},{"name":"Walmer","level":"safe","note":"Often cited as a more residential and generally safer area."},{"name":"Summerstrand","level":"safe","note":"A popular tourist area along the coast, generally considered safe."},{"name":"Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) - Unspecified Neighborhoods","level":"caution","note":"Specific neighborhoods outside of tourist zones may pose higher risks, especially after dark."}]}}