World Safety Map

Safest cities in Ethiopia

88 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04

US 3/4 Reconsider travelUK FCDO advises against all travel to parts of this country

Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting

  • Border areas
  • Tigray region
  • Amhara region
  • Afar region
  • Gambela region
  • Oromia region
  • Somali region
  • Central, Southern, Sidama and South West regions (formerly SNNPR)
  • Benishangul-Gumuz region
  • 20km of the border with Sudan
  • 10km of the border with South Sudan
  • 100km of the Ethiopian border with Somalia and Kenya in Ethiopia’s Somali region, and within 30km of the Ethiopian border with Somalia in Fafan zone, except the border town and crossing at Wajale, and the principal road between Jijiga and Wajale
  • 10km of the border with Kenya, except for principal roads and towns
  • 10km of the border with Eritrea
  • areas between 10-15km from the border with Eritrea
  • within 10km of the border with Kenya, except for principal roads and towns
  • north of (but not including) the A4 road in West Shewa zone
  • south and west of the A3 road in North Shewa zone, including the A3 road itself in North Shewa
  • West Wollega zone (including the main Addis Ababa to Gambela road), East Wollega zone, Kellem Wollega and Horo Gudru Wollega
  • all of East Shewa zone except the Addis Ababa to Adama Expressway, 10km either side of the Addis Ababa to Adaba expressway between Addis Ababa and Bishoftu, and the A7 from junction with the Addis Ababa to Adama expressway down to Hawassa
  • the A4 road between Addis Ababa and Cheliya, except for the section in the Finfine special zone
  • the remainder of North Shewa zone
  • West Guji and Guji zones (except the Hawassa to Mega road)
  • 30km of the Ethiopia-Somalia border in Fafan zone, except the border town and crossing at Wajale, and the principal road between Jijiga and Wajale
  • 100km of the Ethiopian border with Somalia and Kenya in the rest of the region
  • the Siti zone
  • the Nogob (previously Fik)
  • Jarar (previously Degehabur)
  • Shabelle (previously Gode)
  • Korahe and Dollo (previously Warder)
  • areas of Liben and Afder zones more than 100km from the Somalia and Kenya borders
  • within 20km of the border with Sudan
  • the Metekel zone
  • the Maokomo special zone

In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.

What official travel advice warns about

Terrorism

  • Terrorism in EthiopiaTerrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Ethiopia.

Political situation

  • ElectionsA nationwide general election is due to be held on 1 June 2026. Stay away from large gatherings and demonstrations and follow advice of the local authorities.
  • Conflict and violenceTensions are high between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the security situation in Northern Ethiopia may deteriorate quickly.
  • Strikes and protestsCivil unrest, including protests and strikes, may happen with little or no notice. This can cause:

Addis Ababa security checks

  • Travellers may face increased scrutiny, particularly if they are of Amhara, Tigrayan or Oromo ethnicity. Officials may carry out direct police operations including road checkpoints and door-to-door calls. Security services sometimes conduct house searches without authorisation.

Risk of arbitrary detention

  • There have been a small number of cases of arbitrary detention of British nationals in Ethiopia. The risk may increase if tensions are heightened around major events, or in locations that are sensitive for security reasons. Carry a paper copy of your passport and contact details of the British Embassy in Addis Ababa (phone: +251 11 617 0100) in…

Crime

  • Protecting yourself and your belongingsTake care of your belongings when visiting crowded public places, especially at night. There is a risk of petty theft around Bole International Airport, particularly pickpockets and bag-snatchers.
  • Vehicle crimeThere is a risk of bag and jewellery snatching from vehicles at traffic lights and of thefts from parked cars.
  • Criminal kidnapKidnapping is widespread in parts of Ethiopia, with incidents in the Oromia, Amhara and Somali regions and on the southern border with Kenya.

Landmines and unexploded bombs

  • There is a continued risk of landmines and other unexploded ordinances following the end of the 2020-2022 northern Ethiopia conflict.

Laws and cultural differences

  • Personal IDAlways carry a copy of the photo page of your passport and your visa and entry stamp. It is not a legal requirement to carry the original.
  • Religious customsEthiopia is religiously diverse and largely tolerant. However, many people are devout in their faith. Take care to not offend local traditions, customs, laws and religions. Dress conservatively and observe local customs. Take particular care if travelling:
  • Health and safetyHealth and safety precautions like life jackets in boats or protective railings at historical sites are rarely in place in Ethiopia.
  • Date and timeTraditionally Ethiopia has a different calendar and way of expressing time than are widely used internationally.
  • MoneyEthiopia is a cash-based society. Banking facilities, including card payments and ATMs are limited, and unreliable, especially outside of cities. Make sure you have enough cash before leaving cities.
  • Illegal drugs and prison sentencesDrug offences are treated seriously in Ethiopia. Possession of drugs can lead to prison sentences of 5 to 10 years and potentially large fines.
  • AlcoholThere are no restrictions on buying or possessing alcohol. This includes the predominantly Muslim regions although it may be more difficult to obtain.
  • Dress codeWomen are expected to dress conservatively, especially when visiting religious sites.
  • LGBT+ travellersSame-sex acts (applying to both sexes) are illegal and carry penalties of between 1 and 15 years in prison. Local authorities intimidate and detain owners and clients of hotels, bars and restaurants in Addis Ababa where same-sex activity is alleged to take place.
  • Using cameras or drones in secure areasIt is illegal to take photos:

Transport risks

  • Fuel shortagesFuel availability is currently limited across Ethiopia, with long queues and shortages at petrol stations reported nationwide. This may cause transport disruption and delays, particularly for travel outside Addis Ababa. If you are planning to travel within Ethiopia, check arrangements carefully with your tour operator or transport provider and…
  • Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Ethiopia, see information on driving abroad.
  • Travel from the airport and around Addis AbabaOnly use buses or taxis from the airport that have been organised by your hotel or travel company. If you are booking your own taxi, choose yellow or app-based taxis rather than the blue and white ones.
  • Transport outside Addis AbabaAvoid driving after dark anywhere outside Addis Ababa. Vehicles often have no lights and livestock may stray onto the roads.
  • Public busesThere have been instances where buses from one region have been attacked when passing through another.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

  • EarthquakesThere is a risk of earthquakes and earth tremors. You should:

Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Ethiopia, updated 2026-05-29 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →

Country figures

Homicide rate
8.51 /100k2012
Income inequality
Gini 31.12021
Human development
HDI 0.4972023
Income
$3,620/yrGNI per capita PPP
Road deaths
28.2 /100kWHO, 2019
Political stability
34/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
Rule of law
39/100WGI, 2024
Corruption perceptions
38/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
Natural-hazard risk
7.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Women, Peace & Security
0.52GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
Air quality
23.8 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
Safe drinking water
14%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
Healthcare capacity
0.1 doctors /1k0.3 hospital beds per 1,000
Malaria
139 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only

Natural hazards

Flood
5.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Drought
5.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Earthquake
4.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier

Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.

Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Ethiopia (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.

How Ethiopia compares

Ethiopia against the median of all 180 countries in the dataset. Green means better than the median.
MeasureEthiopiaWorld medianDifference
Homicide rate8.5 /100k2.4 /100k+6.1 /100k — better for World median
Income inequality (Gini)31.135.2−4.1 — better for Ethiopia
Human development (HDI)0.4970.763−0.266 — better for World median
Road deaths28.2 /100k15.4 /100k+12.8 /100k — better for World median
Rule of law39/10052/100−13/100 — better for World median
Corruption perceptions38/10039/100−1/100 — better for World median
Air quality (PM2.5)23.8 µg/m³19.7 µg/m³+4.1 µg/m³ — better for World median
Natural-hazard risk7.1/103.8/10+3.3/10 — better for World median
And against its own region — often the more useful comparison, since Africa shares much of the context a global median averages away.
MeasureEthiopiaAfrica medianDifference
Homicide rate8.5 /100k4.4 /100k+4.1 /100k — better for Africa median
Income inequality (Gini)31.138.5−7.4 — better for Ethiopia
Human development (HDI)0.4970.563−0.066 — better for Africa median
Road deaths28.2 /100k27.9 /100k+0.3 /100k — better for Africa median
Rule of law39/10042/100−3/100 — better for Africa median
Corruption perceptions38/10030/100+8/100 — better for Ethiopia
Air quality (PM2.5)23.8 µg/m³27.7 µg/m³−3.9 µg/m³ — better for Ethiopia
Natural-hazard risk7.1/105.2/10+1.9/10 — 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 88 cities, safest first

  1. Fik'62.5 · #4234 worldwide
  2. Gode62.5 · #4235 worldwide
  3. Filtu62.5 · #4236 worldwide
  4. Tepi62.5 · #4237 worldwide
  5. Jinka60.6 · #4370 worldwide
  6. Melka Chireti60.6 · #4371 worldwide
  7. Jimma59.5 · #4465 worldwide
  8. Degehabur59.5 · #4466 worldwide
  9. Seka58.7 · #4541 worldwide
  10. Kebri Dehar56.5 · #4737 worldwide
  11. Jijiga55.5 · #4826 worldwide
  12. Togechane55.5 · #4827 worldwide
  13. Agaro55.3 · #4846 worldwide
  14. Harar54.8 · #4870 worldwide
  15. Dire Dawa54.4 · #4902 worldwide
  16. Chiro54.4 · #4903 worldwide
  17. Bike54.1 · #4937 worldwide
  18. Karamile54.1 · #4938 worldwide
  19. Areka53.6 · #4979 worldwide
  20. Sodo53.5 · #4986 worldwide
  21. Boditi53.2 · #5008 worldwide
  22. Durame53.1 · #5013 worldwide
  23. Shone53.1 · #5014 worldwide
  24. Arbe Gona52.2 · #5063 worldwide
  25. Leku52.0 · #5071 worldwide
  26. Irba52.0 · #5072 worldwide
  27. Hawassa51.8 · #5083 worldwide
  28. Basha51.8 · #5084 worldwide
  29. Bonsa Bota51.7 · #5099 worldwide
  30. Aleta Wendo51.7 · #5100 worldwide
  31. Irgalem51.6 · #5102 worldwide
  32. Chucko51.3 · #5120 worldwide
  33. Konso51.0 · #5128 worldwide
  34. Hossana50.6 · #5147 worldwide
  35. Alaba Kulito50.6 · #5150 worldwide
  36. Arba Minch49.9 · #5191 worldwide
  37. Negele49.6 · #5200 worldwide
  38. Yirga Cheffe49.5 · #5206 worldwide
  39. Gedeb49.5 · #5207 worldwide
  40. Dilla49.4 · #5217 worldwide
  41. Robe49.2 · #5266 worldwide
  42. Shashamane49.2 · #5270 worldwide
  43. Bule Hora49.2 · #5271 worldwide
  44. Kibre Mengist49.1 · #5286 worldwide
  45. Kefole49.0 · #5302 worldwide
  46. Shakiso48.8 · #5309 worldwide
  47. Dodolla48.8 · #5317 worldwide
  48. Asassa48.8 · #5319 worldwide
  49. Mendi47.6 · #5377 worldwide
  50. Asosa47.5 · #5382 worldwide
  51. Bekoji47.3 · #5398 worldwide
  52. Arsi Negelle47.3 · #5399 worldwide
  53. Butajira47.0 · #5411 worldwide
  54. Kombolcha46.9 · #5415 worldwide
  55. Dessie46.7 · #5432 worldwide
  56. Ziway46.3 · #5451 worldwide
  57. Dambidollo46.3 · #5455 worldwide
  58. Adama46.0 · #5467 worldwide
  59. Asella46.0 · #5473 worldwide
  60. Meki45.8 · #5479 worldwide
  61. Abudwak45.8 · #5481 worldwide
  62. Aykel45.6 · #5505 worldwide
  63. Mojo45.5 · #5508 worldwide
  64. Gonder45.3 · #5523 worldwide
  65. Bishoftu45.2 · #5528 worldwide
  66. Naqamte45.0 · #5542 worldwide
  67. Waliso44.8 · #5551 worldwide
  68. Debark44.8 · #5552 worldwide
  69. Debre Birhan44.6 · #5572 worldwide
  70. Chagni44.4 · #5585 worldwide
  71. Shufune44.2 · #5602 worldwide
  72. Addis Ababa44.2 · #5607 worldwide
  73. Ambo43.7 · #5628 worldwide
  74. Gundo Meskel43.6 · #5631 worldwide
  75. Dangla43.4 · #5644 worldwide
  76. Adigrat43.1 · #5665 worldwide
  77. Gebre Guracha42.8 · #5680 worldwide
  78. Debre Tabor42.5 · #5695 worldwide
  79. Debre Markos42.5 · #5703 worldwide
  80. Bahir Dar42.0 · #5716 worldwide
  81. Wereta41.7 · #5725 worldwide
  82. Mota41.6 · #5730 worldwide
  83. Kobo41.5 · #5734 worldwide
  84. Woldia41.4 · #5739 worldwide
  85. Adwa41.1 · #5765 worldwide
  86. Shire40.4 · #5799 worldwide
  87. Mek'elē37.5 · #5915 worldwide
  88. Quiha37.5 · #5916 worldwide