Safest cities in Azerbaijan
7 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Azerbaijan-Armenia border
- South-western Azerbaijan (those regions affected by conflict in 2020 and 2023)
- The districts (‘rayons’) of Kelbajar, Lachin, Qubadli, Zengilan, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Khojavand, Shusha, Khojali, Khankendi, Aghdam and Tartar
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in AzerbaijanTerrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Azerbaijan.
Political situation
- Armenia-Azerbaijan tensionsTensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan have calmed and the risk of further conflict has decreased, including in the areas of those regions affected by conflict in 2020 and 2023. The FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel to some areas in south-western Azerbaijan due to the risks from mines or unexploded ordnance from former…
Crime
- Dealing with officialsThere are occasionally reports of government officials asking foreign nationals to make undocumented payments. If you think you have been mistreated by a traffic policeman or health professional, report your case to the relevant government department.
- Bank card fraudFraudsters can steal your card details without you noticing. Take extra care to guard against card skimming when using credit cards or withdrawing cash from ATMs. Use ATMs inside banks where possible, check street ATMs for signs of tampering, and always keep your card in sight when paying in shops and restaurants.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDPolice sometimes carry out checks of identity documents. Carry your passport at all times. Keep a copy of the photo page in a safe place.
- Dress codeIn Baku local and foreign women usually dress in conservative western-style clothing. It is now more acceptable for men to wear shorts in Baku in the summer months. Outside of Baku it may still be frowned on, and you may receive unwelcome attention.
- RamadanRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country.
- Smoking restrictionsSmoking is restricted to designated areas. You can be fined for dropping smoking-related litter. Use bins provided.
- Illegal drugsPossession or use of illegal drugs, including cannabis, carries severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using, or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.
- Using cameras and drones in sensitive locationsBe aware of cultural sensitivities when photographing mosques, churches and other religious sites or sites of commemoration, such as the Alley of Martyrs in Baku. If in doubt, ask for permission.
- LGBT+ travellersWhile same-sex sexual activity is not illegal, LGBT+ people in Azerbaijan tend to keep a low profile. Showing affection in public is frowned upon, especially outside of Baku and among the older generation.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Azerbaijan, see information on driving abroad and read the RAC guide on driving in Azerbaijan. The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.
- Inter-country road travelThere may be delays in transporting vehicles to Azerbaijan. It is best not to pay for non-refundable onward travel. Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Closed Joint-Stock Company has details of onward shipment from Baku to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
- Licences and permitsYou’ll need to have both the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
- Driving conditionsMany vehicles are poorly maintained, and the standard of driving is erratic. Accidents are common, mainly due to poor or reckless driving and inconsistent enforcement of traffic rules. Drivers often ignore one-way signs.
- TaxisTry to arrange to be picked up and dropped off as close to your hotel or apartment entrance as possible by a private or company driver, or use a known firm or taxi app.
- Rail travelIf you travel by train, secure your valuables, do not leave the compartment unattended, and lock the door from the inside, if your compartment allows.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- EarthquakesThere is a risk of earthquakes across the Caucasus region, although there have been no recent serious earthquakes in Azerbaijan. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Azerbaijan, updated 2026-09-02 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 1.99 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 26.62005
- Human development
- HDI 0.7892023
- Income
- $25,430/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 6.7 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 63/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 49/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 30/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.65GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 23.7 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 58%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 3.2 doctors /1k3.7 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 0 /1k at riskWHO, 2023 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Earthquake
- 7.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 6.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 5.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Azerbaijan (as of 2025).
How Azerbaijan compares
| Measure | Azerbaijan | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 2.0 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −0.4 /100k — better for Azerbaijan |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 26.6 | 35.2 | −8.6 — better for Azerbaijan |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.789 | 0.763 | +0.026 — better for Azerbaijan |
| Road deaths | 6.7 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −8.7 /100k — better for Azerbaijan |
| Rule of law | 49/100 | 52/100 | −3/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 30/100 | 39/100 | −9/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 23.7 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +4.0 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.6/10 | 3.8/10 | +0.8/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Azerbaijan | Asia median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 2.0 /100k | 1.5 /100k | +0.4 /100k — better for Asia median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 26.6 | 33.6 | −7.0 — better for Azerbaijan |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.789 | 0.766 | +0.023 — better for Azerbaijan |
| Road deaths | 6.7 /100k | 15.3 /100k | −8.6 /100k — better for Azerbaijan |
| Rule of law | 49/100 | 52/100 | −3/100 — better for Asia median |
| Corruption perceptions | 30/100 | 37/100 | −7/100 — better for Asia median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 23.7 µg/m³ | 28.6 µg/m³ | −4.9 µg/m³ — better for Azerbaijan |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.6/10 | 3.6/10 | +1.0/10 — better for Asia 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 7 cities, safest first
- Şirvan78.1 · #2049 worldwide
- Baku77.1 · #2117 worldwide
- Sumgayit77.1 · #2118 worldwide
- Lankaran76.2 · #2177 worldwide
- Ganja66.3 · #3835 worldwide
- Nakhchivan64.5 · #4031 worldwide
- Mingachevir61.3 · #4343 worldwide