Safest cities in Angola
30 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
US 2/4 Exercise increased cautionUK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of this country
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Cabinda Province, except Cabinda city
- Border areas in Lunda Norte Province
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in AngolaAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Angola, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Protests and demonstrations
- Public gatherings and demonstrations can occur with little notice and can quickly turn violent. In recent years, there have been protests against the increase in fuel prices and cost of living. In July 2025 there were 3 days of violent riots. Similar protests cannot be ruled out in future.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsCriminals target areas popular with foreigners. You should be particularly careful when withdrawing money from banks and ATMs, as you could be followed and robbed.
- Vehicle crimeTheft from stationary or slow-moving cars is common in downtown Luanda. Keep valuables out of sight and do not use mobiles or laptops while in traffic. When driving, keep doors locked and windows closed. Do not respond if anyone signals you to pull over. Thieves may fake a minor traffic incident to get you out of your car. If they succeed, they…
- Sexual assaultIncidents of rape have been reported in popular nightlife areas, as well as in private homes. Never travel alone at night.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDAlways carry ID – it is safest to carry a certified copy your passport’s photo page. If travelling outside of Luanda and the provincial capitals, take the originals with you, packed as securely as you can. If you do not have any ID, you may get an on-the-spot fine of 15,000 kwanzas.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesDrug taking and smuggling are offences. Punishments can be severe and prison conditions are very poor.
- Using cameras and binoculars in secure areasDo not use cameras, binoculars or GPS equipment near any government buildings. Taking photographs in the streets can draw the attention of the authorities and they may confiscate your camera.
- LGBT+ travellersIn January 2019, Angola’s parliament made it illegal to discriminate against people on the basis of sexual orientation. However, public attitudes towards same-sex relationships are less tolerant than in the UK. Showing affection in public may attract negative attention.
- Wildlife, animal products and souvenirsIf you’re caught buying or trafficking goods made of ivory it’s likely you’ll be prosecuted and get a prison sentence or fine.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Angola, see information on driving abroad. Road conditions vary significantly, particularly outside major urban centres, where infrastructure may be poor and emergency response capacity limited. For longer journeys, the use of a roadworthy 4-wheel drive vehicle may be appropriate due to terrain and road conditions.…
- Road conditions and landminesRoads outside Luanda and the provincial capitals are often in poor condition. Landmines and unexploded bombs and weapons are still a problem on roads, verges and bridges.
- Taxis and minibusesTaxi apps are widely used in Angola. Whilst companies have made efforts to enhance passenger and driver safety these measures can vary. This can result in inconsistent safety and security standards, variable vehicle condition, and limited traceability in the event of an incident. We recommend against using taxi apps where possible. Passengers who…
- Air travelThe UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in Angola that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to and from the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from the UK Civil…
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingDuring the rainy season from November to April, there are storms and heavy downpours. This can cause sudden, serious flooding in and around cities, including Luanda. Flooding can damage roads, buildings and bridges. Stay indoors during storms.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Angola, updated 2026-05-28 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 4.1 /100k2016
- Income inequality
- Gini 51.32018
- Human development
- HDI 0.6162023
- Income
- $9,840/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 26.1 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 56/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 37/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 32/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 6.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.60GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 19.9 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.2 doctors /1k0.8 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 259 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 3.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 3.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Angola (as of 2025).
How Angola compares
| Measure | Angola | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 4.1 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +1.7 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 51.3 | 35.2 | +16.1 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.616 | 0.763 | −0.147 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 26.1 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +10.7 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 37/100 | 52/100 | −15/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 32/100 | 39/100 | −7/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 19.9 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +0.2 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.0/10 | 3.8/10 | +2.2/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Angola | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 4.1 /100k | 4.7 /100k | −0.6 /100k — better for Angola |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 51.3 | 38.3 | +13.0 — better for Africa median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.616 | 0.560 | +0.056 — better for Angola |
| Road deaths | 26.1 /100k | 28.2 /100k | −2.1 /100k — better for Angola |
| Rule of law | 37/100 | 42/100 | −5/100 — better for Africa median |
| Corruption perceptions | 32/100 | 30/100 | +2/100 — better for Angola |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 19.9 µg/m³ | 27.7 µg/m³ | −7.8 µg/m³ — better for Angola |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.0/10 | 5.2/10 | +0.8/10 — better for Africa median |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 30 cities, safest first
- Lubango57.6 · #4624 worldwide
- Malanje57.6 · #4625 worldwide
- Luena57.6 · #4626 worldwide
- Cuito57.6 · #4627 worldwide
- Huambo57.6 · #4628 worldwide
- Benguela57.6 · #4629 worldwide
- Lobito57.6 · #4630 worldwide
- Saurimo57.6 · #4631 worldwide
- Moçâmedes57.6 · #4632 worldwide
- Uíge57.6 · #4633 worldwide
- Soyo57.6 · #4634 worldwide
- Ondjiva57.6 · #4635 worldwide
- Menongue57.6 · #4636 worldwide
- Matala57.6 · #4637 worldwide
- Dundo57.6 · #4638 worldwide
- Cafunfo57.6 · #4639 worldwide
- Sumbe57.6 · #4640 worldwide
- Luau57.6 · #4641 worldwide
- Cazombo57.6 · #4642 worldwide
- N'dalatando57.6 · #4643 worldwide
- Gabela57.6 · #4644 worldwide
- Lucapa57.6 · #4645 worldwide
- Cubal57.6 · #4646 worldwide
- Xangongo57.6 · #4647 worldwide
- Nzagi57.6 · #4648 worldwide
- Ganda57.6 · #4649 worldwide
- Waku Kungo57.6 · #4650 worldwide
- Luanda55.7 · #4792 worldwide
- M'banza Congo53.8 · #4955 worldwide
- Cabinda47.3 · #5394 worldwide