Safest cities in Indonesia
215 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- FCDO advises against all travel to a number of volcanoes in Indonesia:
- Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province
- Mount Sinabung, Karo Regency, North Sumatra
- Mount Marapi, West Sumatra
- Mount Semeru, Lumajang Regency, East Java
- Mount Ruang, Northern Sulawesi
- Mount Ibu, North Maluku Province
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in IndonesiaTerrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Indonesia.
Political situation
- The political situation in Indonesia is stable. However, elections, internal and external developments, including in the Middle East, can trigger protests or unrest.
Crime
- Sexual assaultReported cases of rape and sexual assault are high in Bali and Lombok. Be alert when out at night, and avoid areas that are poorly lit.
- Drink spikingThere have been reports of drink spiking linked to sexual assault in Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands.
- Protecting your belongingsBe aware of the risk of street crime such as bag-snatching and pickpocketing, particularly in busy tourist areas. There are often reports of bag-snatching in Bali. Conceal your bag as much as possible to reduce the risk. Carry only essential items and take care of your passport and bank cards.
- ScamsCredit card fraud is common. Do not lose sight of your card during transactions. Criminals sometimes place a fake telephone number on ATMs advising customers to report problems so they can fraudulently ask for card details.
- Alcoholic drinks and drugsDrinks served in bars can be stronger than those in the UK, usually because the measures of spirits are larger. In some cases, excessive drinking and taking drugs has resulted in accidents, injuries, robbery, assaults and lost travel documents. Some British nationals have suffered psychiatric problems caused by alcohol, drugs and a lack of sleep.…
- Methanol poisoningThere have been deaths and cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in Indonesia.
Laws and cultural differences
- RamadanRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. Ramadan in Indonesia is from 19 February to 20 March 2026. During this time, do not:
- Balinese New YearBalinese New Year (‘Nyepi’) is on 19 March 2026. During this time, local custom requires that all people in Bali observe a day of silence by staying indoors, turning off lights, and making no noise. Ngurah Rai International Airport is closed for the entire day. However, emergency services and hospitals are allowed to operate.
- Personal IDYou must always carry your passport or stay permit (such as KITAS or KITAP).
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesDo not get involved with illegal drugs in Indonesia. Possession, using, making or trafficking illegal drugs is a serious crime. The Indonesian authorities have a zero-tolerance policy and those caught may face long prison sentences or the death penalty. Legal cases can be lengthy and costly.
- Alcohol laws and bansThe province of Aceh enforces Sharia law. It is the only province in Indonesia to do so and the laws apply to both Muslims and non-Muslims.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is illegal in the province of Aceh under Sharia law. Punishment following a Sharia court process includes public caning, a prison sentence or a fine payable in gold.
- GamblingIn the province of Aceh gambling is illegal under Sharia law. Punishment following a Sharia court process includes public caning, a prison sentence or a fine payable in gold.
- Extra-marital sexIn the province of Aceh, extra-marital sex is illegal under Sharia law and punishable by public caning after a Sharia court process.
- Wildlife, animal products and souvenirsIt’s illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal or trade its parts without a licence. If you’re caught buying or smuggling illegal wildlife products, you’ll be prosecuted and could receive a prison sentence and a fine.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Indonesia, see information on driving abroad.
- Driving conditionsTraffic discipline is very poor and there has been a large increase in moped and motorbike accidents – some fatal – in Bali. Wear a helmet in good condition if you’re riding a motorbike or moped.
- Sea travelTravelling by boat or ferry can be dangerous as the sea conditions can change rapidly. Safety standards vary between providers. Vessels can be crowded and overloaded and are often poorly maintained.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- Volcanic eruptionsCheck Regional risks for warnings against travel to specific volcanoes.
- FloodingThe rainy season usually runs from October to March. The wet season can be different in Eastern Indonesia, which usually runs from April to August.
- Earthquakes and tsunamisEarthquakes happen regularly. If a major earthquake or landslide occurs close to shore, follow the instructions of local authorities, bearing in mind that a tsunami could arrive within minutes. The Indonesia Tsunami Early Warning Centre issues warnings when a potential tsunami with significant impact is imminent or expected. You can also use the…
- WildfiresWildfires in Indonesia’s forests are most severe during the dry season, usually from April to September. Many fires burn all year in the peat-rich soil.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Scuba divingDiving school standards are not always as high as in the UK. You should:
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Indonesia, updated 2026-08-28 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 0.41 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 34.42025
- Human development
- HDI 0.7282023
- Income
- $17,190/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 11.3 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 55/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 53/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 34/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.68GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 20.8 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 31%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.5 doctors /1k1.4 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 2 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Tsunami
- 9.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 8.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 8.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 3.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Cyclone
- 1.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Indonesia (as of 2025).
How Indonesia compares
| Measure | Indonesia | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 0.4 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −2.0 /100k — better for Indonesia |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 34.4 | 35.2 | −0.8 — better for Indonesia |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.728 | 0.763 | −0.035 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 11.3 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −4.1 /100k — better for Indonesia |
| Rule of law | 53/100 | 52/100 | +1/100 — better for Indonesia |
| Corruption perceptions | 34/100 | 39/100 | −5/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 20.8 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +1.1 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.5/10 | 3.8/10 | +0.7/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Indonesia | Asia median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 0.4 /100k | 1.8 /100k | −1.4 /100k — better for Indonesia |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 34.4 | 33.4 | +1.0 — better for Asia median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.728 | 0.771 | −0.043 — better for Asia median |
| Road deaths | 11.3 /100k | 15.3 /100k | −4.0 /100k — better for Indonesia |
| Rule of law | 53/100 | 52/100 | +1/100 — better for Indonesia |
| Corruption perceptions | 34/100 | 37/100 | −3/100 — better for Asia median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 20.8 µg/m³ | 28.6 µg/m³ | −7.8 µg/m³ — better for Indonesia |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.5/10 | 3.6/10 | +0.9/10 — 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 215 cities, safest first
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