Safest cities in Cambodia
6 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
US 2/4 Exercise increased cautionUK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of this country
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in CambodiaAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Cambodia, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Land bordersBe alert to the local security situation in border regions and at land crossings between countries. Get local advice before you set off. At the more remote crossing points, conditions can be basic. Local officials and tour operators can ask for unofficial fees or inflate visa prices at land borders. Make sure you know the correct visa requirements…
- Protests and demonstrationsAvoid all protests, demonstrations and student and political rallies as they can become violent without warning.
Landmines
- Cambodia remains heavily affected by landmines and unexploded weapons. Mined areas are often unmarked. Do not:
Crime
- Organised crimeA bomb was left near a casino in Phnom Penh in December 2022 and there was a shooting in the same month. Both were likely linked to organised crime, and tourists were not targeted.
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsMost incidents of theft are bag snatchings, often by thieves riding past on motorbikes. Thieves will cut bag straps and snatch bags or phones from tourists on foot or in tuk-tuks and on motorbikes, often causing injury. There have been incidents on bus journeys where passengers have had items taken from bags while asleep.
- Sexual assaultFemale travellers, including British nationals, have been sexually assaulted in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. This includes incidents of lone women being sexually assaulted by men claiming to be motorbike taxi drivers in the Pub Street area of Siem Reap. Be wary of approaches from strangers and offers of transport.
- Personal safetyParties, including organised dance parties on Cambodia’s islands, may place you at risk of:
- Drink spikingPolice have reported instances of drink spiking in some bars visited by foreign nationals. Do not leave drinks unattended.
- Methanol poisoningThere have been deaths and cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in Cambodia.
- ScamsTravellers have reported fake dollar bills being given as change in shops and clubs. Check that notes you receive are genuine and are not damaged or torn.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDIt may be useful to carry a copy of the photo page of your passport, but this is not a legal requirement in Cambodia.
- Legal system and prison sentencesThe legal process in Cambodia is unpredictable, lacks transparency and is open to interference from political and business interests. The investigation and trial process falls far below the standard of the UK. Pre-trial detention can also last many months. The British Embassy will not interfere in the legal processes of a host country.
- Illegal drugsPossession, trafficking and manufacture of any illegal drugs are serious offences in Cambodia. This includes cannabis. British nationals have been caught carrying cannabis while transiting through Cambodia.
- Angkor Wat official code of conductThe Cambodian authorities have issued an official code of conduct for visitors at Angkor Wat and other religious sites.
- Dress codeYou may be refused admission to religious sites, including Angkor Wat, if you wear skirts or shorts above the knee. Cover bare shoulders.
- Using cameras in secure areasNever take photographs on or near military bases. Ask permission before taking pictures of people, especially monks and other religious figures.
- Research, photography and filmingRequest permission in advance from the district head, provincial governor or national tourism board for any travel that authorities might see as out of the ordinary, including:
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is legal in Cambodia. The LGBT+ community is becoming more visible, through gay clubs, club nights and the work of some human rights organisations.
- Adopting Cambodian childrenThe UK government has suspended all adoptions of Cambodian children by UK residents.
- Commercial surrogacyCommercial surrogacy is banned in Cambodia. If you pay a surrogate, you could get a fine or a prison sentence. See guidance on surrogacy abroad.
- Phone and data connectionsWhile there is good wi-fi and mobile phone networks in the main cities and towns of Cambodia, many of the islands and remote areas are not well covered. Make sure your friends and family are aware that you may be out of contact.
- Health and safetyCambodia does not have the same health and safety standards as in the UK. Be aware that safety advice will be minimal and there may be no warning signs about dangers at tourist sites.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Jungle treksIf you’re considering jungle trekking, use a reputable tour guide. There’s no licensing system for tour guides, so get advice from your hotel, and look at online reviews before hiring a guide.
- Water-based activitiesWhen swimming, kayaking, rafting, or using jet-skis:
- Scuba divingDiving school standards are not always as high as in the UK. You should:
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Cambodia, see information on driving abroad. Cambodia has one of the highest rates of road traffic accidents in south-east Asia. There are large numbers of fatalities and serious injuries. Many accidents are due to poor vehicle and driver safety standards. Travel after dark significantly increases the risk of…
- MotorcyclesTravelling as a passenger by motorcycle taxi (‘moto dop’) is dangerous. Vehicles are poorly maintained and driving standards are low. There is also a risk that thieves (also on motorcycles) will snatch bags from off your bike, particularly in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.
- Sea and river travelAccidents have happened when boats are overloaded or poorly maintained. Tourist boats sometimes operate despite weather warnings, particularly between Sihanoukville and the nearby islands.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- MonsoonHeavy storms during the monsoon season from June to October disrupt and damage the road network. Travel to some provinces can be seriously restricted by landslides at this time. Poor drainage results in flooded roads, causing major traffic congestion and delays in Phnom Penh - including along the route to the airport.
- FloodingLakes, caves and waterfalls are particularly prone to dangerous flash flooding during the rainy season from June to October.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Cambodia, updated 2026-03-19 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 1.82 /100k2011
- Income inequality
- no data
- Human development
- HDI 0.6062023
- Income
- $8,390/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 19.6 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 68/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 39/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 20/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 6.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.67GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 19.4 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 30%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.2 doctors /1k0.7 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 0 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 8.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 4.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 2.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Cyclone
- 1.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Cambodia (as of 2025).
How Cambodia compares
| Measure | Cambodia | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.8 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −0.6 /100k — better for Cambodia |
| Income inequality (Gini) | no data | 35.2 | — |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.606 | 0.763 | −0.157 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 19.6 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +4.2 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 39/100 | 52/100 | −13/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 20/100 | 39/100 | −19/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 19.4 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −0.3 µg/m³ — better for Cambodia |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.1/10 | 3.8/10 | +2.3/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Cambodia | Asia median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.8 /100k | 1.5 /100k | +0.3 /100k — better for Asia median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | no data | 33.5 | — |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.606 | 0.771 | −0.165 — better for Asia median |
| Road deaths | 19.6 /100k | 14.9 /100k | +4.7 /100k — better for Asia median |
| Rule of law | 39/100 | 52/100 | −13/100 — better for Asia median |
| Corruption perceptions | 20/100 | 37/100 | −17/100 — better for Asia median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 19.4 µg/m³ | 28.6 µg/m³ | −9.2 µg/m³ — better for Cambodia |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.1/10 | 3.6/10 | +2.5/10 — 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 6 cities, safest first
- Phnom Penh74.1 · #2945 worldwide
- Siem Reap74.1 · #2946 worldwide
- Battambang74.1 · #2947 worldwide
- Anlong Veng74.1 · #2948 worldwide
- Poipet74.1 · #2949 worldwide
- Sihanoukville74.1 · #2950 worldwide