Safest cities in Liberia
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in LiberiaAlthough there is no recent history of terrorism in Liberia, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Liberia is generally stable politically, but protests and demonstrations do take place and, particularly small-scale protests, can begin with little or no warning. Avoid protests, demonstrations, political rallies and large crowds. Follow the advice of local authorities.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsForeign nationals have been mugged in the Mamba Point and Sinkor areas of Monrovia, where most international visitors stay. Criminals also operate in nightclubs and on beaches during the day.
- Sexual assaultLiberia has a high rate of rape and sexual assault. There have been cases of rapes and attempted rapes of foreign women, although these are rare.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDCarry photo ID with you at all times, such as your driving licence or a copy of the photo page of your passport. You may be asked to show it at any time by immigration officials or the police.
- Drug trafficking and diamond smugglingDrug trafficking and gold and diamond smuggling are illegal. If convicted, you will get a long prison sentence. Local prison conditions are harsh.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is illegal in Liberia.
- Adoption in LiberiaThe Ministry of Justice in Liberia can issue a decree of adoption if all legal requirements are met. However, adoption orders from Liberia are not recognised in the UK. If you’re returning to live in the UK, you’ll need to apply for entry clearance for the child as a Liberian child coming for adoption in the UK.
- MoneyLiberia remains a predominantly cash-based society, especially with street vendors.
Outdoor activities
- Swimming and water safetyBeaches in Liberia can have rip tides and other dangerous currents. Beaches and the sea in Monrovia city centre are dirty. Get local advice before going in the water.
- Sporting eventsThe Samuel K Doe Stadium in Monrovia can become overcrowded during major football matches or events.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you’re planning to drive in Liberia, see information on driving abroad.
- Road conditions and driving standardsThe roads from Monrovia to the port town of Buchanan and to the border with Sierra Leone at Bo Waterside, and to the border with Guinea at Ganta, are mainly paved and in reasonable condition.
Air travel
- The UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in Liberia that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from…
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Liberia, updated 2026-05-27 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 3.09 /100k2012
- Income inequality
- Gini 35.32016
- Human development
- HDI 0.5102023
- Income
- $1,840/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 38.9 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 62/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 42/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 28/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.51GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 17.9 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.2 doctors /1k1.6 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 172 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 7.4/10EU 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 Liberia (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Liberia compares
| Measure | Liberia | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.1 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +0.7 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 35.3 | 35.2 | +0.1 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.510 | 0.763 | −0.253 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 38.9 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +23.5 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 42/100 | 52/100 | −10/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 28/100 | 39/100 | −11/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 17.9 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −1.8 µg/m³ — better for Liberia |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.9/10 | 3.8/10 | +1.1/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Liberia | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.1 /100k | 4.7 /100k | −1.6 /100k — better for Liberia |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 35.3 | 38.5 | −3.2 — better for Liberia |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.510 | 0.563 | −0.053 — better for Africa median |
| Road deaths | 38.9 /100k | 27.9 /100k | +11.0 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Rule of law | 42/100 | 42/100 | ±0/100 |
| Corruption perceptions | 28/100 | 31/100 | −3/100 — better for Africa median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 17.9 µg/m³ | 27.7 µg/m³ | −9.8 µg/m³ — better for Liberia |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.9/10 | 5.3/10 | −0.4/10 — better for Liberia |
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 1 cities, safest first
- Monrovia65.5 · #3869 worldwide