{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/zambia/kitwe","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:25:58.353Z","place":{"city":"Kitwe","country":"Zambia","countryCode":"ZM","lat":-12.80243,"lon":28.21323},"safety":{"score":68,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":69,"confidence":0.85,"caps":[],"databaseScore":66,"travellerSentiment":{"score":79,"label":"Cautiously positive","summary":"Travel guides and backpackers describe Kitwe as 'safe by Zambian standards,' affordable, and 'refreshingly untouristy.' Tourism rankings rate it poorly for attractions (44/100 overall), reflecting limited visitor infrastructure rather than unsafe conditions.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":62,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":65,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":79,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":97,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":64,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":62,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-06-01T13:58:33Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zambia"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":1,"label":"Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/zambia"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":5.20150860823759,"display":"5.2 / 100k","year":"2015","score":65,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":0.6,"display":"0.6%","year":"2019","score":100,"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":17.1,"display":"17.1 / 100k","year":"2021","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":64.1728259,"display":"64/100","year":"2024","score":64,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":47.3064578,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":38.6078994,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":40.9757367,"display":"41/100","year":"2024","score":41,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":48.2283671,"display":"48/100","year":"2024","score":48,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":49.7157692,"display":"50/100","year":"2024","score":50,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":665961,"display":"666k residents","year":null,"score":77,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.78,"display":"0.78 / 100k","year":"2023","score":81,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":18,"display":"18.0%","year":"2017","score":62,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":64,"display":"US AQI 64 · Moderate","year":null,"score":83,"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":20,"display":"20 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2010","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":30,"display":"July: highs ~30°C · no weather extremes","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":16,"display":"16 active alerts · Wildfire (green)","year":null,"score":23,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1,"display":"Level 1 — Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":97,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":92,"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":62,"display":"62 / 100 (Cautiously positive)","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":[{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":97},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in The Democratic Republic of Congo","distanceKm":102},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":126},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":146},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":147},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":156},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":168},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":169},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":304},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":308},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":308},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":337},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":352},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":364},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":378},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":385}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Moderately safe — Kitwe is safer than most African cities by traveller accounts, with minimal violent crime and mainly petty-theft risks for visitors.","summary":"Kitwe is a mining-focused city with low violent-crime rates and a reputation for being 'safe by Zambian standards' among travellers. Petty theft and pickpocketing are the primary concerns, while the city sees minimal tourism-related serious crime. Road safety is a greater practical hazard than street crime.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Armed robbery and mugging are rare for visitors; street crime is primarily petty theft, not violent crime."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded settings (markets, transport hubs, public buses); visitors are common targets."},"safeAreas":["City Centre","Mindolo Residential","Kalimina Residential"],"avoidAreas":["Unlit streets and isolated areas after dark (petty theft risk rises significantly)","Industrial outskirts late evening (minimal foot traffic, reduced visibility)"],"scams":["Taxi overcharging — negotiate fares before entering; visitors are significantly overcharged on street hails","Restaurant bill inflation — confirm menu prices before ordering; some establishments add unexpected charges","Counterfeit goods in markets — verify authenticity when purchasing souvenirs or electronics"],"zones":[{"name":"City Centre","level":"safe","note":"Commercial hub with active daytime markets and shops—reasonable security for daylight visitors"},{"name":"Mindolo Residential","level":"safe","note":"Popular visitor accommodation area, quieter and more secure than downtown"},{"name":"Kalimina Residential","level":"safe","note":"Established neighborhood with stable conditions and available lodging"},{"name":"Nkana Mining Town","level":"caution","note":"Historic separate mining town now part of Kitwe, economically challenged—use caution after dark"},{"name":"Bulangililo Commercial","level":"caution","note":"Older commercial district, busy during day but avoid isolated streets after dark"},{"name":"Copperbelt Industrial Zones","level":"caution","note":"Mining and manufacturing areas on outskirts, theft risk elevated at night"}]}}