Afghanistan Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Afghanistan
Afghanistan recorded 4.0 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2021, a rate that is moderate by global standards. That places Afghanistan #83 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Asia average of 2.0 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. Homicide rates have remained broadly stable over the past decade. For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Afghanistan at Level 4 of 4: Do Not Travel.
Homicide Rate
4.0 /100k
Safety Rank
#113 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 4 of 4
Data Year
2021
Homicide Rate Trend (2009-2021)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide rates have remained broadly stable over the past decade. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Afghanistan Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Who Is Affected
In Afghanistan, the homicide rate for men is 9.6× higher than the rate for women — 12.2 vs 1.3 per 100,000 (2018).
Homicide victims per 100,000 of each sex. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
Armed Conflict Context
Afghanistan has recorded battle-related deaths in recent years. Conflict deaths are counted separately from homicides — a country can have a moderate crime rate but significant conflict risk, and travel advisories weigh both.
Battle-Related Deaths
260(2024)
Military Spending
1.8% GDP(2021)
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Afghanistan:
There was no change to the advisory level. Do not travel to Afghanistan due to civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, natural disasters, and limited health facilities. Do not travel to Afghanistan for any reason We urge American citizens in Afghanistan to leave immediately. U.S. citizens seeking U.S. government help to leave the country should email their complete biographic details, contact information (email and phone number), and U.S. passport number to AfghanistanACS@state.gov . The U.S. Embassy in Kabul suspended operations in 2021. The U.S.
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Level 4
Do Not Travel
About This Data
Homicide figures are intentional homicides per 100,000 people, compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and published by the World Bank (indicator VC.IHR.PSRC.P5). Homicide is the most reliably comparable crime statistic across countries because definitions of other offences (assault, theft, robbery) vary widely between national legal systems and reporting practices.
Travel advisory levels are issued by the US Department of State and updated continuously. They reflect risks to travelers including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, and natural disasters — not only crime rates. Countries report crime data with different lags; the most recent available year is shown for each metric.
Afghanistan Population & Demographics
Population of 42,647,492, growth trends, economy, and more.
Crime & Safety in Neighboring Countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Afghanistan safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Afghanistan at Level 4 of 4 (Do Not Travel). The homicide rate of 4.0 per 100,000 is moderate by global standards.
What is the crime rate in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan has an intentional homicide rate of 4.0 per 100,000 people (2021, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #83 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Afghanistan?
Afghanistan is currently at Level 4: Do Not Travel. Advisory levels range from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
How does crime in Afghanistan compare to other countries?
Afghanistan's homicide rate of 4.0 per 100,000 is below the world average of 5.2 and above the Asia average of 2.0.