Safest cities in Papua New Guinea
4 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces due to the high risk of tribal fighting
- Enga Province in the Highlands, except Wabag District
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in Papua New GuineaAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Papua New Guinea, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Tribal fighting
- Outbreaks of tribal fighting are common across Papua New Guinea, including tourist areas. Ethnic disputes can quickly escalate and lead to widespread destruction of property, disruption of normal services and serious injury. Tribal fighters may be armed.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsThere is a serious risk of bag-snatching and robbery. Criminals often use machetes (‘bush knives’) and firearms in assaults and thefts. They target people who are using banks and ATMs.
- Vehicle crimeCarjacking and other types of vehicle crime are common. Criminals use roadblocks outside towns to stop and loot vehicles and then attack the occupants.
- Public buses and taxisArmed criminals have attacked and robbed passengers on public buses (known as ‘PMVs’) and in taxis. There have also been incidents of rape on Port Moresby PMVs. Many PMVs and taxis are not roadworthy.
- Rape and sexual assaultRape and sexual assault are common in Papua New Guinea. Stay alert and leave travel plans with friends, relatives or reliable local contacts. See advice for women travelling abroad.
- Kokoda TrackThere have been serious attacks and robberies along the Kokoda Track. Although community leaders have assured tourists of their safety and wellbeing while walking the Kokoda Track, you should take care. Avoid walking independently and travel with guides from trusted travel companies. You can get details from the Papua New Guinea Tourism Authority…
- Criminal kidnappingOrganised gangs have abducted people and forced them to open office safes while others are held captive until a ransom has been paid. A foreign national was kidnapped in a remote part of Southern Highlands Province in 2023. Be vigilant and leave travel plans with friends, relatives or reliable local contacts.
- Methanol poisoningThere have been deaths and cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in Papua New Guinea.
- Unexploded weaponsThere are unexploded World War 2 weapons in Papua New Guinea, particularly along the Kokoda Track, at Milne Bay and Rabaul. If you are concerned, get advice from a trusted travel company for the areas you’re visiting.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesIt is a serious offence to use, possess or traffic illegal drugs, including marijuana. If convicted, you can get a long prison sentence.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity between men is illegal. People who are convicted face up to 14 years imprisonment. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- If you plan to participate in outdoor or adventure activities, consider getting advice on safety from a trusted travel company. You can get information from the Papua New Guinea Tourism Authority.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Papua New Guinea, see information on driving abroad.
- Road conditionsRoads are in a poor state of repair, especially in rural areas, and driving is often erratic.
- Air travelDelays and cancellations of international and domestic flights often happen. Check with your airline before travel.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- EarthquakesEarthquakes are a serious risk in Papua New Guinea. Seismic and volcanic activity is more likely near Rabaul in East New Britain Province, Kimbe in West New Britain Province and on Manam Island in Madang Province.
- TsunamisEarthquakes can be followed by tsunamis. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after a tsunami.
- Volcanic eruptionsPapua New Guinea has many active and dormant volcanoes. You should check with your travel provider or airline and seek advice from local authorities before travelling to affected areas.
- Tropical cyclonesThe tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to May. Monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organization and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
- FloodingThere is a risk of flooding and landslides, especially in rural areas and during monsoon season from November to May. Exceptionally high tides (‘king tides’) can cause flooding in coastal areas.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Papua New Guinea, updated 2026-08-17 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 9.34 /100k2010
- Income inequality
- Gini 41.92009
- Human development
- HDI 0.5762023
- Income
- $4,840/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 12.6 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 55/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 47/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 26/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 6.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.51GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 14.1 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.1 doctors /1k0.6 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 152 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Earthquake
- 9.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 7.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 4.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Cyclone
- 2.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 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 Papua New Guinea (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Papua New Guinea compares
| Measure | Papua New Guinea | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 9.3 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +7.0 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 41.9 | 35.2 | +6.7 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.576 | 0.763 | −0.187 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 12.6 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −2.8 /100k — better for Papua New Guinea |
| Rule of law | 47/100 | 52/100 | −5/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 26/100 | 39/100 | −13/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 14.1 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −5.6 µg/m³ — better for Papua New Guinea |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.6/10 | 3.8/10 | +2.8/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Papua New Guinea | Oceania median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 9.3 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +7.0 /100k — better for Oceania median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 41.9 | 33.8 | +8.1 — better for Oceania median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.576 | 0.835 | −0.259 — better for Oceania median |
| Road deaths | 12.6 /100k | 11.6 /100k | +1.0 /100k — better for Oceania median |
| Rule of law | 47/100 | 76/100 | −29/100 — better for Oceania median |
| Corruption perceptions | 26/100 | 66/100 | −40/100 — better for Oceania median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 14.1 µg/m³ | 6.7 µg/m³ | +7.4 µg/m³ — better for Oceania median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.6/10 | 2.8/10 | +3.8/10 — better for Oceania 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 4 cities, safest first
- Lae56.6 · #4732 worldwide
- Port Moresby52.9 · #5034 worldwide
- Mount Hagen44.8 · #5550 worldwide
- Mendi42.7 · #5690 worldwide