World Safety Map

Safest cities in Sudan

59 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04

US 4/4 Do not travelUK FCDO advises against all travel to parts of this country

Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting

  • Get help in Sudan
  • Leaving Sudan

In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.

What official travel advice warns about

Terrorism

  • Terrorism in SudanTerrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Sudan

Red Sea military activity

  • There is a military response to Houthi militants’ attempts to disrupt international shipping in the Red Sea. The military activity is limited to the Red Sea and Yemen, but travel advice for nearby countries could change at short notice. You should monitor travel advice and follow instructions from local authorities.

Security situation

  • There is an ongoing conflict across Sudan following violent clashes, which started in April 2023.

Crime

  • Criminal kidnapThere is a high threat of detention, including kidnap, enforced disappearances and unlawful arrest across Sudan. There have been a number of recent incidents where British nationals and other westerners have been detained against their will.

Mobile phone and internet access

  • There are regular communication blackouts. Mobile phone and internet services are not always available. Telecommunications networks could be disrupted without warning.

Laws and cultural differences

  • Personal IDIt is a legal requirement to carry photographic ID, such as a passport, with you at all times.
  • Dress codeNon-Muslim women do not have to wear a veil or cover their heads. Men and women should dress modestly and respect local customs and sensitivities.
  • RamadanSudan is an Islamic country. Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions. Make sure your actions do not cause offence, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.
  • Alcohol and drug lawsNon-Muslims are allowed to drink alcohol in Sudan, but not in the presence of Muslims. However, you may still be arrested for drinking alcohol regardless of the circumstances.
  • Using cameras in secure areasDue to the conflict, it is not advisable to take photographs in secure areas in Sudan. Do not take photographs or use a mobile phone camera close to:
  • LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is illegal in Sudan and not tolerated in Sudanese society. This includes inviting guests into hotel rooms.
  • Relationships outside marriageIt’s illegal to have extramarital relations and there are severe penalties. It’s illegal to live together, or to share the same hotel room, with someone of the opposite sex if you’re not married or closely related.
  • Guests in hotel roomsIt’s illegal to invite guests into your hotel room. Business meetings should take place in hotel lobbies or meeting rooms, not hotel rooms. Tourist police patrol the hotels, and British nationals have reported problems with Sudanese authorities about this.
  • Technical equipmentYou might need a licence to use some technical equipment in Sudan, including:
  • MoneyIt’s difficult to use non-Sudanese credit or debit cards, and most banks and ATM machines will not let you withdraw cash. Bring US dollars with you to Sudan.

Transport risks

  • Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Sudan, see information on driving abroad.
  • Road conditions and safetyRoad travel will involve heightened levels of risk due to the current conflict and should only be undertaken if strictly necessary.

Air travel

  • Khartoum Airport and Port Sudan Airport are operating limited numbers of international and domestic flights. However, both airports have been the target of drone strikes due to the ongoing conflict. The risk of further attacks continues and might cause the airports to close on a temporary basis again.

Sea travel

  • There is a significant risk of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The threat assessment of the combined international naval counter-piracy forces is that sailing yachts should not enter the designated high-risk area, due to the risk of hijacking.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

  • Rainy seasonFlash flooding can happen during the rainy season from July to October. Risks at this time of year include:

Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Sudan, updated 2026-05-11 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →

Country figures

Homicide rate
no data
Income inequality
Gini 34.22014
Human development
HDI 0.5112023
Income
$2,140/yrGNI per capita PPP
Road deaths
26.8 /100kWHO, 2019
Political stability
31/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
Rule of law
26/100WGI, 2024
Corruption perceptions
14/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
Natural-hazard risk
7.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Women, Peace & Security
0.40GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
Air quality
37.6 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
Safe drinking water
no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
Healthcare capacity
0.3 doctors /1k0.7 hospital beds per 1,000
Malaria
98 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only

Natural hazards

Flood
8.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Drought
5.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier

Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.

Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Sudan (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.

How Sudan compares

Sudan against the median of all 180 countries in the dataset. Green means better than the median.
MeasureSudanWorld medianDifference
Homicide rateno data2.4 /100k—
Income inequality (Gini)34.235.2−1.0 — better for Sudan
Human development (HDI)0.5110.763−0.252 — better for World median
Road deaths26.8 /100k15.4 /100k+11.4 /100k — better for World median
Rule of law26/10052/100−26/100 — better for World median
Corruption perceptions14/10039/100−25/100 — better for World median
Air quality (PM2.5)37.6 µg/m³19.7 µg/m³+17.9 µg/m³ — better for World median
Natural-hazard risk7.8/103.8/10+4.0/10 — better for World median
And against its own region — often the more useful comparison, since Africa shares much of the context a global median averages away.
MeasureSudanAfrica medianDifference
Homicide rateno data4.5 /100k—
Income inequality (Gini)34.238.5−4.3 — better for Sudan
Human development (HDI)0.5110.563−0.052 — better for Africa median
Road deaths26.8 /100k28.2 /100k−1.4 /100k — better for Sudan
Rule of law26/10042/100−16/100 — better for Africa median
Corruption perceptions14/10031/100−17/100 — better for Africa median
Air quality (PM2.5)37.6 µg/m³27.3 µg/m³+10.3 µg/m³ — better for Africa median
Natural-hazard risk7.8/105.2/10+2.6/10 — better for Africa 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 59 cities, safest first

  1. Timerein78.7 · #2024 worldwide
  2. Al-Qadarif78.7 · #2025 worldwide
  3. Derudeib78.7 · #2026 worldwide
  4. Karora78.7 · #2027 worldwide
  5. Port Sudan70.6 · #3342 worldwide
  6. Sinkāt70.6 · #3343 worldwide
  7. Hayya70.6 · #3344 worldwide
  8. Sawakin70.6 · #3345 worldwide
  9. Jubayt70.6 · #3346 worldwide
  10. Kassala68.8 · #3564 worldwide
  11. New Halfa68.8 · #3565 worldwide
  12. Wadsharefy68.8 · #3566 worldwide
  13. Masgid Karakun68.8 · #3567 worldwide
  14. Khashm El Girba68.8 · #3568 worldwide
  15. Atbara67.1 · #3776 worldwide
  16. ad-Damer67.1 · #3777 worldwide
  17. Ghubaysh64.9 · #3987 worldwide
  18. Shendi64.0 · #4072 worldwide
  19. Um Dukhan59.4 · #4481 worldwide
  20. Khorbranga58.9 · #4524 worldwide
  21. Ad Da'ein58.8 · #4537 worldwide
  22. Abu Karinka58.7 · #4547 worldwide
  23. Khazan Gedid58.0 · #4589 worldwide
  24. En Nahud56.5 · #4738 worldwide
  25. Kosti55.6 · #4798 worldwide
  26. Rabak54.7 · #4876 worldwide
  27. Rahad al Bardi54.6 · #4879 worldwide
  28. Umm Danga54.1 · #4942 worldwide
  29. Adiela53.7 · #4969 worldwide
  30. Muglad53.5 · #4983 worldwide
  31. Tulus53.2 · #5003 worldwide
  32. Buram53.2 · #5009 worldwide
  33. Umm Ruwaba53.1 · #5010 worldwide
  34. Dilling52.6 · #5048 worldwide
  35. Ed Dueim52.4 · #5058 worldwide
  36. Garsila51.5 · #5107 worldwide
  37. Al-Ubayyid51.4 · #5111 worldwide
  38. Bobuk51.3 · #5119 worldwide
  39. Ad-Damazin50.6 · #5149 worldwide
  40. Al Rahad50.5 · #5154 worldwide
  41. Kebkabiya50.4 · #5166 worldwide
  42. Sheiria48.8 · #5320 worldwide
  43. Nyala48.2 · #5348 worldwide
  44. Ed Al Fursan47.5 · #5379 worldwide
  45. Gereida47.4 · #5390 worldwide
  46. El Sireaf47.1 · #5409 worldwide
  47. Kas46.7 · #5427 worldwide
  48. Sennar46.4 · #5446 worldwide
  49. Wad Madanī46.3 · #5454 worldwide
  50. Al Managil45.3 · #5524 worldwide
  51. Al Hasahisa44.7 · #5558 worldwide
  52. Mellit43.5 · #5641 worldwide
  53. Al-Fashir43.5 · #5642 worldwide
  54. Kutum43.4 · #5650 worldwide
  55. Ghaliya43.3 · #5651 worldwide
  56. Khartoum42.9 · #5678 worldwide
  57. Jebel Aulia42.4 · #5705 worldwide
  58. El Geneina41.3 · #5758 worldwide
  59. Saraf `Umrah41.0 · #5772 worldwide