The most dangerous countries to visit in 2026
The 20 countries with the highest combined safety risk in 2026. Active conflict zones, fragile states, and destinations under Do Not Travel advisories.
Most countries on this list are not destinations in any conventional sense. They are countries with active armed conflict, fragile or absent state institutions, or both. For most travellers the question is whether to go at all rather than how to stay safe once there.
A few entries near the bottom of the list are different. They have severe risk that concentrates in a particular region rather than across the country, or specific traveller-targeting risks like kidnap-for-ransom and militant activity rather than country-wide instability. The Warnely guide for each one explains where the risk sits and where, if anywhere, can reasonably be visited.
The list
Somalia
95/100Al-Shabaab terrorism. Clan warfare.
Syria
95/100Active civil war zones.
Yemen
95/100Active armed conflict. Humanitarian catastrophe.
Afghanistan
95/100Taliban government. No functioning embassy for most Western nations.
Libya
90/100Civil conflict ongoing.
South Sudan
90/100Armed conflict, extreme violence, kidnapping.
Sudan
88/100Active armed conflict since April 2023. Humanitarian crisis.
Ukraine
85/100Active war with Russia since 2022. Western Ukraine (Lviv) has lower risk than front-line areas.
Haiti
82/100Gang violence. Kidnapping. Humanitarian crisis.
Burkina Faso
82/100Jihadist insurgency. Military junta.
Venezuela
81/100Economic collapse. Kidnapping, armed robbery widespread.
Democratic Republic of Congo
81/100Eastern DRC has severe security risks. Kinshasa requires extreme caution. Gorilla trekking in Virunga.
Mali
80/100Military junta. Jihadist activity in north and center.
Iraq
80/100Kurdistan region has lower risk. Rest of Iraq has severe security risks. Historical sites incredible but access difficult.
Niger
78/100Military junta since 2023. Terrorism risk.
Palestine
78/100Active conflict in Gaza. West Bank access complicated. Bethlehem accessible from Israel.
Myanmar
77/100Civil conflict ongoing since 2021 coup. Many areas affected. Tourism heavily disrupted.
Chad
75/100Lake Chad region insecurity. N'Djamena requires caution. Zakouma NP for wildlife. Very hot.
Nigeria
70/100Largest African economy. Lagos vibrant but challenging. Avoid northeast (Boko Haram). Business travel mainly.
Lebanon
69/100Economic crisis ongoing. Beirut has moments of beauty. Security situation volatile. Check advisories carefully.