Safest cities in Guyana
2 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in GuyanaAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Guyana, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Border areasVenezuela disputes the legitimacy of its border with Guyana. Political tensions remain and the security situation along the border remains tense. There has also been an increase in organised criminality in these border areas.
Crime
- Violent attacks and personal safetyAttacks and muggings have occurred in broad daylight but are more common at night, and have included the use of knives or firearms. They may target tourists, particularly those that show obvious signs of wealth.
- Protecting your belongingsThieves will take items from hotel rooms, parked vehicles or luggage if it is unattended. Keep your passports, money, tickets, mobile phones and other valuables as secure as you can, and use hotel safes or safe deposit boxes if possible.
- ScamsScammers often offer travellers in South America free air tickets to Guyana. On arrival their ‘sponsors’ will only allow them to leave Guyana if they carry a ‘package’ (usually cocaine). The authorities at the airport will stop and search foreigners that fit this known profile.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesYou can get lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines for possession or the trafficking of drugs. The minimum jail sentence for drug offences is 3 years, and prison conditions in Guyana are tough. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry any items that do not belong to you.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is illegal. In practice, these laws are rarely enforced, and there is growing local support for LGBT+ rights. You could receive negative attention for showing affection in public.
- Hotel safetyFires have occurred in Guyanese hotels, and some hotels have poor fire safety procedures. Check evacuation procedures and exit routes when you arrive, and speak to hotel management if you have any concerns.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Guyana, see information on driving abroad.
- Driving standards and road conditionsDriving in Guyana can be dangerous because of reckless drivers, frequent hazards, poor street lighting, and poor road conditions. Drive with caution and take extreme care if you choose to drive at night. Keep a safe distance from minibuses – minibus drivers are responsible for many of the road accidents in Guyana.
- Taxis and minibusesAlthough private taxis can be targeted by robbers, they are the safest way for visitors to get around Georgetown. Use taxis from reputable companies and book them in advance or from official hotel taxi ranks.
- River and sea travelThere have been armed attacks against fishing boats in and around the waters of Guyana and Suriname, and those between Guyana and Venezuela. If you’re travelling by sea, read about the regional risks at sea.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingGuyana is vulnerable to flooding. The main rainy seasons are generally May to June and December to January. The coast of Guyana is below sea level and protected by a sea defence and dam system. However, the anti-flooding infrastructure and drainage systems are poorly maintained
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Guyana, updated 2025-12-30 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 14.08 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 45.11998
- Human development
- HDI 0.7762023
- Income
- $80,300/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 22.3 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 70/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 51/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 40/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.77GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 16.9 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 67%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 1.4 doctors /1k3.2 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 39 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 6.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 4.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 2.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Guyana (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Guyana compares
| Measure | Guyana | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 14 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +12 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 45.1 | 35.2 | +9.9 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.776 | 0.763 | +0.013 — better for Guyana |
| Road deaths | 22.3 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +6.9 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 51/100 | 52/100 | −1/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 40/100 | 39/100 | +1/100 — better for Guyana |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 16.9 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −2.8 µg/m³ — better for Guyana |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.0/10 | 3.8/10 | +0.2/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Guyana | South America median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 14 /100k | 8.6 /100k | +5.5 /100k — better for South America median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 45.1 | 43.0 | +2.1 — better for South America median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.776 | 0.786 | −0.010 — better for South America median |
| Road deaths | 22.3 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +6.9 /100k — better for South America median |
| Rule of law | 51/100 | 48/100 | +3/100 — better for Guyana |
| Corruption perceptions | 40/100 | 35/100 | +5/100 — better for Guyana |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 16.9 µg/m³ | 18.4 µg/m³ | −1.5 µg/m³ — better for Guyana |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.0/10 | 4.7/10 | −0.7/10 — better for Guyana |
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 2 cities, safest first
- Georgetown50.7 · #5141 worldwide
- Paradise50.7 · #5142 worldwide