Safest cities in Myanmar
55 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Chin State
- Kachin State
- Kayah State
- Kayin Sate
- Mon State
- Rakhine State
- Sagaing and Magway regions
- Tanintharyi Region, excluding Myeik township, and the archipelago and townships south of Tanintharyi township
- Shan State North
- North Mandalay Region; the townships north of Mandalay City and Pyin Oo Lwin
- East of the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway in Bago region
- Shan State South and East
- Mandalay Region
- Tanintharyi Region south of Tanintharyi township
- the rest of Bago region
- the townships of Kyangin, Myanaung, Ingapu, Lemyethna, Yegyi, Thabaung and Pathein in Ayeyarwady region
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in MyanmarTerrorist attacks in Myanmar cannot be ruled out.
Political and conflict situation
- In February 2021, the Myanmar military took control of the country by force and declared a state of emergency leading to increased conflict. There has been widespread violence involving the deaths of thousands of civilians and fighting continues across much of the country. Stay alert as the security situation could deteriorate at short notice,…
Police and military checkpoints
- If you travel in Myanmar, you are likely to pass through police or military checkpoints. Always carry your passport containing your visa. Most personnel on military and police checkpoints, including in cities, will not speak English.
Crime
- Protecting your belongingsThieves often distract their victims by asking questions, begging for money, offering items for sale, or simply bumping or jostling. Take extra care of your belongings and be wary of strangers who approach you.
- ScamsBe wary of merchants offering to sell gems, gold or semi-precious stones. You could lose your money or get drawn into an illegal activity. Do not buy gems or minerals from an unlicensed source.
Unexploded weapons
- The risk of landmines in rural areas is serious, particularly in northern and central Rakhine, northern Shan and Kachin states. There is evidence of landmine use having spread to other areas since the coup in 2021. Some areas with known mines are marked by signs, but this practice is not widespread. Be extremely cautious if you must leave the main…
Mobile phones and internet
- Mobile phone network coverage is good in urban areas and some rural areas but can be subject to disruption as the Myanmar authorities have influence over the mobile telecommunications networks. Foreign mobile phone SIM cards do not reliably work in Myanmar.
Laws and cultural differences
- Detention and arrestThere is a risk of arbitrary detention and arrest, particularly for journalists and human rights activists. The criminal justice process followed in such cases falls below international standards. The death penalty is in place in Myanmar.
- Religious customsAlthough primarily Buddhist, many different religions are represented in Myanmar. When visiting religious sites, respect religious customs. Shorts, short skirts and sleeveless tops can cause offence. You should remove shoes and socks before entering a pagoda or monastery.
- Illegal drugsPenalties for drug trafficking include a prison sentence of a minimum 15 years or even the death penalty.
- Taking photos and using dronesDo not take photographs or videos of the police, demonstrations, military installations or military personnel.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is illegal in Myanmar for men and women, although in practice these laws are not consistently enforced. If convicted, the punishment can be up to life imprisonment. There have been reports of police using threats of prosecution to extort bribes. This is alleged to include arbitrary arrest and detention.
- Wildlife, animal products and souvenirsMyanmar is a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Over 800 species of animals and plants are banned from international trade and a further 30,000 are strictly controlled by legislation. The restrictions cover some exotic souvenirs, such as those made from turtle shell.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Myanmar, see information on driving abroad.
- Rail travelRailway safety standards are significantly below those in the UK. Some rail routes are still operating, but timetables are unreliable. Get information from the closest railway station before travel.
- Sea and river travelRiver transport may not meet internationally recognised safety standards and search and rescue facilities are limited.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- CyclonesMyanmar normally experiences cyclones between mid-April and mid-May, and during October and November. You can monitor the progress of tropical cyclones on the website of the World Meteorological Organization. Floods and landslides may occur. Check local weather reports before travelling, particularly in coastal areas.
- EarthquakesThere is a risk of earthquakes in Myanmar. In March 2025, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar and neighbouring areas. Naypyitaw, Sagaing region, and Mandalay region were significantly affected. There is heavy damage to infrastructure, including to hospitals and roads. If you are within these regions follow the advice of local authorities and…
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Myanmar, updated 2026-08-04 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 3.9 /100k2022
- Income inequality
- Gini 30.72017
- Human development
- HDI 0.6092023
- Income
- $5,890/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 20.4 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 30/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 26/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 16/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 6.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.44GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 35.1 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 60%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.8 doctors /1k1.1 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 15 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 8.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 8.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 8.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Cyclone
- 5.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Myanmar (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Myanmar compares
| Measure | Myanmar | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.9 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +1.5 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 30.7 | 35.2 | −4.5 — better for Myanmar |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.609 | 0.763 | −0.154 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 20.4 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +5.0 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 26/100 | 52/100 | −26/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 16/100 | 39/100 | −23/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 35.1 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +15.4 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.7/10 | 3.8/10 | +2.9/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Myanmar | Asia median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.9 /100k | 1.5 /100k | +2.4 /100k — better for Asia median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 30.7 | 33.6 | −2.9 — better for Myanmar |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.609 | 0.771 | −0.162 — better for Asia median |
| Road deaths | 20.4 /100k | 14.9 /100k | +5.5 /100k — better for Asia median |
| Rule of law | 26/100 | 52/100 | −26/100 — better for Asia median |
| Corruption perceptions | 16/100 | 37/100 | −21/100 — better for Asia median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 35.1 µg/m³ | 26.7 µg/m³ | +8.4 µg/m³ — better for Asia median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.7/10 | 3.6/10 | +3.1/10 — 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 55 cities, safest first
- Kengtung69.3 · #3457 worldwide
- Labutta67.4 · #3762 worldwide
- Pathein66.3 · #3830 worldwide
- Myaung Mya66.3 · #3831 worldwide
- Mawlamyinegyunn61.2 · #4347 worldwide
- Wakema60.8 · #4361 worldwide
- Bogale58.4 · #4565 worldwide
- Hinthada58.1 · #4584 worldwide
- Magway57.7 · #4612 worldwide
- Pyapon57.7 · #4617 worldwide
- Kyaiklat57.6 · #4621 worldwide
- Twante57.6 · #4623 worldwide
- Thanlyin57.5 · #4664 worldwide
- Maubin57.5 · #4666 worldwide
- Yangon57.4 · #4669 worldwide
- Nyaungdon57.2 · #4689 worldwide
- Pyay57.2 · #4690 worldwide
- Danu Phyu57.1 · #4693 worldwide
- Hmawbi57.0 · #4700 worldwide
- Taik Kyi56.8 · #4707 worldwide
- Letpadan56.8 · #4714 worldwide
- Taunggyi56.6 · #4733 worldwide
- Yangon56.6 · #4736 worldwide
- Hlegu56.5 · #4743 worldwide
- Myeik56.3 · #4755 worldwide
- Dawei56.2 · #4764 worldwide
- Thongwa55.8 · #4788 worldwide
- Kyaukpyu55.4 · #4843 worldwide
- Kayan55.4 · #4844 worldwide
- Myitkyina54.7 · #4877 worldwide
- Meiktila54.7 · #4878 worldwide
- Taungup54.5 · #4889 worldwide
- Pegu54.2 · #4923 worldwide
- Myawaddy54.1 · #4934 worldwide
- Thaton54.0 · #4943 worldwide
- Mawlamyine53.8 · #4958 worldwide
- Pyinmana53.5 · #4985 worldwide
- Daik-U53.4 · #4993 worldwide
- Hpa-An53.4 · #4995 worldwide
- Taungoo53.0 · #5022 worldwide
- Lashio52.6 · #5046 worldwide
- Minbya52.6 · #5051 worldwide
- Kalay52.5 · #5054 worldwide
- Sittwe52.0 · #5073 worldwide
- Loikaw51.9 · #5082 worldwide
- Mrauk U51.5 · #5105 worldwide
- Kyauktaw51.4 · #5108 worldwide
- Pyin Oo Lwin50.6 · #5153 worldwide
- Mogok50.1 · #5179 worldwide
- Pakokku49.4 · #5216 worldwide
- Mandalay49.1 · #5280 worldwide
- Myingyan49.1 · #5282 worldwide
- Sagaing49.1 · #5284 worldwide
- Monywa48.2 · #5347 worldwide
- Shwebo48.0 · #5353 worldwide