Safest cities in Guinea-Bissau
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in Guinea-BissauAlthough there is no recent history of terrorism in Guinea-Bissau, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Guinea-Bissau suffers from political instability. In the event of any political unrest follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media for information. Stay alert to local developments and avoid sensitive areas like military installations and government buildings. Avoid demonstrations or large public gatherings.
Crime
- Pickpocketing and bag and phone snatching are relatively common in the capital city, Bissau. Where possible, keep valuables such as phones hidden when out in public.
Landmines
- Landmines remain a risk in parts of the country, and demining operations continue. The national demining centre (CAAMI) declared Bissau free from landmines. Outside of Bissau, take local advice and stay on paved roads.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDYou must carry ID such as a passport or residence permit, particularly when driving or in a taxi. Police forces regularly ask for ID.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesThere are severe penalties for all drug offences. Local prison conditions are harsh.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual relationships are not criminalised. However, Guinea-Bissau is a conservative society and same-sex couples showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention.
- MoneyGuinea-Bissau is a cash-based economy. Credit cards are rarely used and there are not many ATMs in the country. If you need to exchange foreign currency, use an official bureau de change.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Guinea-Bissau, see information on driving abroad.
- Road conditionsTraffic is generally light but driving standards and road conditions, including in Bissau, are poor. Avoid road travel at night and take suitable precautions in the rainy season, which runs from June to October. Heavy rains can make road and driving conditions difficult.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Guinea-Bissau, updated 2025-12-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 1.12 /100k2017
- Income inequality
- Gini 33.42021
- Human development
- HDI 0.5142023
- Income
- $3,320/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 32.2 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 55/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 36/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 21/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.51GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 32.3 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 24%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.3 doctors /1k1.0 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 110 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 2.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 1.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Guinea-Bissau (as of 2025).
How Guinea-Bissau compares
| Measure | Guinea-Bissau | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.1 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −1.3 /100k — better for Guinea-Bissau |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 33.4 | 35.2 | −1.8 — better for Guinea-Bissau |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.514 | 0.763 | −0.249 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 32.2 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +16.8 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 36/100 | 52/100 | −16/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 21/100 | 39/100 | −18/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 32.3 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +12.6 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.2/10 | 3.8/10 | +0.4/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Guinea-Bissau | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.1 /100k | 4.7 /100k | −3.5 /100k — better for Guinea-Bissau |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 33.4 | 38.5 | −5.1 — better for Guinea-Bissau |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.514 | 0.563 | −0.049 — better for Africa median |
| Road deaths | 32.2 /100k | 27.9 /100k | +4.3 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Rule of law | 36/100 | 42/100 | −6/100 — better for Africa median |
| Corruption perceptions | 21/100 | 31/100 | −10/100 — better for Africa median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 32.3 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | +5.0 µg/m³ — better for Africa median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.2/10 | 5.3/10 | −1.1/10 — better for Guinea-Bissau |
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 1 cities, safest first
- Bissau75.6 · #2208 worldwide