Safest cities in Moldova
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Transnistria
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in MoldovaAlthough there is no recent history of terrorism in Moldova, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Humanitarian support workersThe UK supports humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, including supporting Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, through the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). If you’re considering providing humanitarian support to Ukrainians in Moldova, check:
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsBe alert to:
- DiscriminationSome Asian and Afro-Caribbean visitors have reported being verbally abused or assaulted. Visitors also report police harassment.
Laws and cultural differences
- Police checks and personal IDThere are frequent police checks and police officers have the right to ask for ID on the street. Always carry a copy of the photo page of your passport with you.
- Buying and exporting art and antiquesYou must get permission from the Moldovan Department of Monuments to take any artwork or antiques out of the country. If you do not, customs officials could seize the goods and you could face criminal charges.
- Using camerasAvoid taking photos of military and government facilities, including airports and power stations. You’re likely to be detained for questioning or arrested if you’re caught.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is not illegal in Moldova, but the Moldovan government does not formally recognise same-sex partners. There is an active social and lobbying group on gay and lesbian issues in Chisinau. Public attitudes are less tolerant and showing affection in public can receive unwanted attention.
- SurrogacyChild surrogacy is strictly prohibited throughout Moldova. The British Embassy will not be able to provide support if you get involved in any way.
- Illegal drugsIllegal drugs, even small quantities of drugs (class A, B or C) including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.
- MoneyPaying by card is now generally widespread, however you may not always be able to pay this way, particularly outside the capital, Chisinau.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you’re planning to drive a hire car or a UK vehicle, see information on driving abroad and check the rules of the road in the RAC’s Moldova guide. The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.
- Road conditions and driving standardsDriving standards are poor and roads are of variable quality. There are many traffic accidents, including fatal ones. Avoid driving outside urban areas when possible, particularly at night.
- Drink-drivingDrink-driving is a serious offence in Moldova. If you are tested and found to have more than a third of England’s legal limit of alcohol in your system, you may get a fine and possible imprisonment.
- TaxisOfficial-looking taxis can be unlicensed. Do not share taxis with strangers or flag down unofficial taxis. If there is no meter, negotiate a price before getting into a taxi. Where possible, ask your hotel to order you a taxi or give you the number of a reputable company.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- EarthquakesMoldova has insignificant earth tremors throughout the year. The last significant earthquake occurred in 1986, causing deaths and damage to buildings.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Moldova, updated 2025-12-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 2.01 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 26.82023
- Human development
- HDI 0.7852023
- Income
- $19,990/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 7.3 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 60/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 54/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 42/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 3.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.82GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 14.9 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 76%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 4.0 doctors /1k5.5 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Earthquake
- 6.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 5.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 4.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Moldova (as of 2025).
How Moldova compares
| Measure | Moldova | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 2.0 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −0.4 /100k — better for Moldova |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 26.8 | 35.2 | −8.4 — better for Moldova |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.785 | 0.763 | +0.022 — better for Moldova |
| Road deaths | 7.3 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −8.1 /100k — better for Moldova |
| Rule of law | 54/100 | 52/100 | +2/100 — better for Moldova |
| Corruption perceptions | 42/100 | 39/100 | +3/100 — better for Moldova |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 14.9 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −4.8 µg/m³ — better for Moldova |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.9/10 | 3.8/10 | +0.1/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Moldova | Europe median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 2.0 /100k | 1.0 /100k | +1.0 /100k — better for Europe median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 26.8 | 30.7 | −3.9 — better for Moldova |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.785 | 0.911 | −0.126 — better for Europe median |
| Road deaths | 7.3 /100k | 5.5 /100k | +1.8 /100k — better for Europe median |
| Rule of law | 54/100 | 74/100 | −20/100 — better for Europe median |
| Corruption perceptions | 42/100 | 57/100 | −15/100 — better for Europe median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 14.9 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ | +3.7 µg/m³ — better for Europe median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.9/10 | 2.5/10 | +1.4/10 — better for Europe 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 1 cities, safest first
- Chișinău77.9 · #2056 worldwide