Safest cities in North Korea
47 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in North KoreaAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in North Korea, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Nuclear and missile testsNorth Korea carried out 6 underground nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017 and has stated that it reserves the right to carry out further tests.
Crime
- Crime against foreign nationals in North Korea is rare. Take sensible precautions to protect your belongings.
Fire safety
- Levels of fire safety awareness may be low. Check hotel fire procedures with the hotel reception or consult your tour operator.
Laws and cultural differences
- Arrests and trialsForeign nationals may face arrest for not paying sufficient respect, including not treating images of the current and former North Korean leaders with care.
- Taking photos or videosAsk permission from your tour guide before taking any photographs. Avoid pointing cameras at North Korean officials or guarded buildings.
- LGBT+ travellersAlthough there’s no specific legislation outlawing same-sex relationships in North Korea, the authorities do not recognise same-sex rights and consider same-sex relationships and behaviours unacceptable.
Travel outside Pyongyang
- Foreign nationals living in Pyongyang are normally allowed to travel within the city, but usually require permission to travel outside Pyongyang.
Transport risks
- Road travelYou can get taxis from hotels or outside some department stores, but they will be reluctant to take you without a local guide or interpreter. Foreign nationals are not usually allowed to use public transport unless they are accompanied by a local guide.
- Air travelMost travellers entering North Korea by air take direct flights from Beijing to Pyongyang operated by the North Korean national airline, Air Koryo, or the Chinese state airline, Air China.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- Flooding is common in the rainy season from July to August. This can disrupt travel, especially to rural areas. Check that routes are passable before setting out on long journeys.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for North Korea, updated 2025-12-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- no data
- Income inequality
- no data
- Human development
- no data
- Income
- no dataGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 24.2 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 71/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 31/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 15/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 3.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- no dataGIWPS · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 21.8 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 67%of population, 2023 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 3.6 doctors /1k12.8 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 1 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 6.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Cyclone
- 5.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 4.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 3.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 1.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in North Korea (as of 2025).
How North Korea compares
| Measure | North Korea | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 2.4 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | no data | 35.2 | — |
| Human development (HDI) | no data | 0.763 | — |
| Road deaths | 24.2 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +8.8 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 31/100 | 52/100 | −21/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 15/100 | 39/100 | −24/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 21.8 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +2.1 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.6/10 | 3.8/10 | −0.2/10 — better for North Korea |
| Measure | North Korea | Asia median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 1.6 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | no data | 33.5 | — |
| Human development (HDI) | no data | 0.766 | — |
| Road deaths | 24.2 /100k | 14.9 /100k | +9.3 /100k — better for Asia median |
| Rule of law | 31/100 | 52/100 | −21/100 — better for Asia median |
| Corruption perceptions | 15/100 | 37/100 | −22/100 — better for Asia median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 21.8 µg/m³ | 28.6 µg/m³ | −6.8 µg/m³ — better for North Korea |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.6/10 | 3.7/10 | −0.1/10 — better for North Korea |
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 47 cities, safest first
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- Wonsann/a · #6096 worldwide
- Jakdo-dongn/a · #6098 worldwide
- Pyŏngsŏngn/a · #6099 worldwide
- Kanggyen/a · #6101 worldwide
- Kaesongn/a · #6105 worldwide
- Songnimn/a · #6106 worldwide
- Hyesann/a · #6107 worldwide
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- Haejun/a · #6109 worldwide
- Kaechonn/a · #6113 worldwide
- Kimch'aekn/a · #6114 worldwide
- Jongjun/a · #6115 worldwide
- Tokchonn/a · #6117 worldwide
- Nampon/a · #6119 worldwide
- 강서구역n/a · #6122 worldwide
- Huichonn/a · #6124 worldwide
- 천리마구역n/a · #6125 worldwide
- Sonchonn/a · #6127 worldwide
- Rasonn/a · #6129 worldwide
- Sunchonn/a · #6130 worldwide
- 길주읍n/a · #6131 worldwide
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- Ryongchonn/a · #6133 worldwide
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- Munchonn/a · #6141 worldwide
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- Sinphon/a · #6146 worldwide
- Hamjun/a · #6148 worldwide
- 홍원읍n/a · #6149 worldwide
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- Paechonn/a · #6154 worldwide
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- Musann/a · #6159 worldwide
- Anakn/a · #6160 worldwide
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- Phyongsann/a · #6168 worldwide