Safest cities in Jamaica
4 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in JamaicaAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Jamaica, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Zones of Special OperationsThe government can put enhanced security measures in place in response to outbursts of violence and shootings, such as a State of Emergency (SOE) or Zone of Special Operations (ZOSOs). A SOE or ZOSO will have specific boundaries and will temporarily give the police and military additional powers. These can include imposing curfews, cordons,…
- Crowds and demonstrationsProtests and demonstrations occur across Jamaica and can cause significant disruption to traffic and public transportation. Any event with large crowds has the potential to turn violent, including large celebratory gatherings. They can also be used by criminals as cover for robbery and theft. Stay away from areas where protests, demonstrations or…
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsThe motive for most attacks on tourists is robbery. Take extra care in more run-down areas and those less visited by tourists.
- Rape and sexual assaultSome British nationals have reported incidents of rape and sexual assault in tourist areas, including beach resorts. In many cases, the alleged perpetrator was someone the victim met socially, for example at a bar, hotel, beach or excursion.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesIt’s illegal to smoke marijuana (ganja) in Jamaica. There are penalties for all drug offences including those involving marijuana. For possession of amounts of up to 2 ounces you will get a fine of 500 Jamaican dollars, to be paid within 30 days. Severe penalties apply for all other drug related offences, including attempting to export narcotics.
- LGBT+ travellersMale same-sex sexual activity is illegal, but the law is not always strictly enforced. The attitude of many Jamaicans towards same-sex relationships is hostile. Be mindful of local attitudes and be aware that showing affection in public may receive unwanted attention.
Transport risks
- Travel to and from Norman Manley International AirportThere’s been sporadic violence in recent years in the Mountain View area – one of 2 routes between Kingston and Norman Manley International Airport. Most people take the Humming Bird route via South Camp Road to reduce the risk of being robbed on route.
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive, see information on driving abroad.
- Road conditions and driving standardsMany roads are badly maintained with poor signage. In some locations a 4-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. Road accidents and fatalities are common. Roads in rural areas are often narrow and winding and poorly lit at night. Weather conditions can exacerbate poor driving conditions.
- Taxi safetyUse Jamaican Tourist Board (JTB) approved taxis and minibuses for excursions, airport transfers and sightseeing. Most hotels and resorts have assigned JTB drivers who carry photo ID and display a blue JTB sticker on the front windscreen. Taxi-hailing apps such as Uber are now available in some areas of the island (including Kingston).
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- HurricanesHurricane season is normally from June to November. We are seeing more uncharacteristic weather in Jamaica and the region is increasingly vulnerable to climate change impacts.
- EarthquakesThe US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Jamaica, updated 2026-05-06 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 40.36 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 39.92021
- Human development
- HDI 0.7202023
- Income
- $13,090/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 15.1 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 74/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 56/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 44/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 3.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.70GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 21.7 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.5 doctors /1k1.7 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Cyclone
- 8.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 7.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 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 Jamaica (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Jamaica compares
| Measure | Jamaica | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 40 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +38 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 39.9 | 35.2 | +4.7 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.720 | 0.763 | −0.043 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 15.1 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −0.3 /100k — better for Jamaica |
| Rule of law | 56/100 | 52/100 | +4/100 — better for Jamaica |
| Corruption perceptions | 44/100 | 39/100 | +5/100 — better for Jamaica |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 21.7 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +2.0 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.7/10 | 3.8/10 | −0.1/10 — better for Jamaica |
| Measure | Jamaica | North America median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 40 /100k | 15 /100k | +25 /100k — better for North America median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 39.9 | 41.8 | −1.9 — better for Jamaica |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.720 | 0.789 | −0.069 — better for North America median |
| Road deaths | 15.1 /100k | 13.9 /100k | +1.2 /100k — better for North America median |
| Rule of law | 56/100 | 52/100 | +5/100 — better for Jamaica |
| Corruption perceptions | 44/100 | 37/100 | +7/100 — better for Jamaica |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 21.7 µg/m³ | 14.4 µg/m³ | +7.3 µg/m³ — better for North America median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.7/10 | 4.0/10 | −0.3/10 — better for Jamaica |
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 4 cities, safest first
- Montego Bay48.9 · #5304 worldwide
- Mandeville48.9 · #5305 worldwide
- Kingston46.1 · #5460 worldwide
- Portmore46.1 · #5461 worldwide