Safest cities in Lithuania
3 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Crime
- Protecting your belongingsPetty crime is common. To reduce your risk:
- Drink and food spikingThere have been instances of drink spiking in Vilnius and at festivals and events elsewhere in Lithuania. Do not leave drinks unattended and be wary of accepting food and drink from strangers in bars, nightclubs and restaurants.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugsIllegal drugs, including cannabis, are strictly prohibited, even in very small quantities. Severe penalties apply for possessing, using, buying, or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through airports. You should expect long jail sentences of up to 10 years and heavy fines.
- LGBT+ travellersWhile there are some LGBT+ friendly venues in larger cities, small towns and rural areas can be less accepting of LGBT+ travellers.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Lithuania, see information on driving abroad and check the rules of the road in the RAC’s Lithuania guide. The guide lists driving regulations and other requirements that you need to be aware of.
- TaxisIt is safer to use a recognised taxi app or to phone for a registered taxi that uses a meter. Make sure the meter is switched on to avoid arguments about the fare.
- Drone activitySome Ukrainian drones aimed at Russia have crossed into Lithuanian airspace. Follow official guidance as necessary.
Curonian Spit, Klaipeda
- The Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is divided between Lithuania and Russia – the northern half is in Lithuania and the southern half is part of Kaliningrad, Russia. Visitors should be aware that the walk along the Curonian Spit in Lithuanian territory will eventually reach Russian territory. See Russia travel advice.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Lithuania, updated 2026-08-11 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 2.66 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 36.02023
- Human development
- HDI 0.8952023
- Income
- $55,010/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 8.1 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 82/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 81/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 65/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 2.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.89GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 10.7 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 97%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 4.5 doctors /1k5.7 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 5.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 2.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Lithuania (as of 2025).
How Lithuania compares
| Measure | Lithuania | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 2.7 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +0.3 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 36.0 | 35.2 | +0.8 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.895 | 0.763 | +0.132 — better for Lithuania |
| Road deaths | 8.1 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −7.3 /100k — better for Lithuania |
| Rule of law | 81/100 | 52/100 | +29/100 — better for Lithuania |
| Corruption perceptions | 65/100 | 39/100 | +26/100 — better for Lithuania |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 10.7 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −9.0 µg/m³ — better for Lithuania |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.1/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.7/10 — better for Lithuania |
| Measure | Lithuania | Europe median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 2.7 /100k | 1.0 /100k | +1.7 /100k — better for Europe median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 36.0 | 30.6 | +5.4 — better for Europe median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.895 | 0.911 | −0.016 — better for Europe median |
| Road deaths | 8.1 /100k | 5.5 /100k | +2.5 /100k — better for Europe median |
| Rule of law | 81/100 | 73/100 | +8/100 — better for Lithuania |
| Corruption perceptions | 65/100 | 56/100 | +10/100 — better for Lithuania |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 10.7 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | −1.1 µg/m³ — better for Lithuania |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.1/10 | 2.5/10 | −0.4/10 — better for Lithuania |
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.