Safest cities in Guinea
9 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in GuineaTerrorist attacks in Guinea cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- While the political environment is currently stable, there is ongoing tension between the government and opposition parties.
Security situation
- Border areas of Guinea are often tense with an increased military presence. Security has improved but things can still be tense, particularly at big events such as elections.
Crime
- Vehicle crimeCriminals posing as police or military, armed with military weapons, have robbed drivers and their passengers at gunpoint, particularly at night. Violent carjackings are a threat, especially in the outlying suburbs of Conakry. Reduce the risk of vehicle crime by:
- Protecting yourself and your possessionsBreak-ins are common, and burglars may be armed. There is also a high level of street crime – mugging, pickpocketing and bag-snatching. Take precautions by:
- Scams and extortionThe British Embassy in Conakry is aware of police extorting cash from foreigners and Guineans.
- DetentionThe criminal justice process in Guinea falls below international standards. If you are arrested or detained due process may not be followed and delays should be expected. Pre-trial detention is common and can last for many months.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDAlways carry photo ID such as a passport.
- Illegal drugsDo not become involved with illegal drugs of any kind.
- Using cameras in secure areasPhotography and filming in many areas is highly restricted. This includes:
- MoneyCredit cards are not widely used in Guinea and obtaining hard currency is very difficult. There are a few ATMs in Conakry that accept foreign cards, but they give only small amounts of currency. They are also unreliable. Banks in Conakry accept international credit cards and exchange money.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is illegal. Penalties range from 6 months to 3 years in prison and a fine of 500,000 to 1 million Guinean francs.
- Precious stonesYou need an export licence to take precious stones out of Guinea. Gem smuggling is illegal, and anyone convicted can expect a severe prison sentence. Local prison conditions are harsh.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Guinea, see information on driving abroad.
- Driving conditionsRoad travel can be hazardous, especially during the rainy season from May to October. Roads, even within Conakry and other principal towns, can be flooded and become impassable.
- Buses and taxisTaxis and long-distance buses are generally poorly maintained, overcrowded, and the drivers are often unqualified.
- Roadblocks and checkpointsPolice and local militia maintain checkpoints across the country. They check vehicle and passenger documentation and baggage. Corruption and extortion are common at roadblocks. Occasionally, checkpoints can be a pretext for armed robbery.
- Sea travelThere have been reports of piracy attacks against vessels in Guinean territorial waters.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Guinea, updated 2026-08-12 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- no data
- Income inequality
- Gini 29.62018
- Human development
- HDI 0.5002023
- Income
- $4,730/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 29.7 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 48/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 37/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 26/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.53GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 27.3 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.2 doctors /1k0.3 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 286 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 5.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 2.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Guinea (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Guinea compares
| Measure | Guinea | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 2.4 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 29.6 | 35.2 | −5.6 — better for Guinea |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.500 | 0.763 | −0.263 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 29.7 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +14.3 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 37/100 | 52/100 | −15/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 26/100 | 39/100 | −13/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 27.3 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +7.6 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.8/10 | 3.8/10 | +1.0/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Guinea | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 4.5 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 29.6 | 38.5 | −8.9 — better for Guinea |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.500 | 0.563 | −0.063 — better for Africa median |
| Road deaths | 29.7 /100k | 27.9 /100k | +1.8 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Rule of law | 37/100 | 42/100 | −5/100 — better for Africa median |
| Corruption perceptions | 26/100 | 31/100 | −5/100 — better for Africa median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 27.3 µg/m³ | 27.7 µg/m³ | −0.4 µg/m³ — better for Guinea |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.8/10 | 5.3/10 | −0.5/10 — better for Guinea |
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.