Belarus Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Belarus
Belarus recorded 2.4 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2019, a rate that is low by global standards. That places Belarus #106 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Europe average of 1.6 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. Homicide rates have fallen 54% over the past decade (from 5.1 in 2009). For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Belarus at Level 4 of 4: Do Not Travel.
Homicide Rate
2.4 /100k
Safety Rank
#90 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 4 of 4
Data Year
2019
Homicide Rate Trend (1990-2019)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide rates have fallen 54% over the past decade (from 5.1 in 2009). Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Belarus Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Who Is Affected
In Belarus, the homicide rate for men is 1.8× higher than the rate for women — 3.1 vs 1.7 per 100,000 (2019).
Homicide victims per 100,000 of each sex. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Belarus:
There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Advisory summary Do not travel to Belarus due to: The risk of harassment by Belarusian security officials. The arbitrary enforcement of local laws. The potential for civil unrest. Danger associated with its continued support of Russia's war against Ukraine. The U.S. government has extremely limited ability to help detained U.S. citizens. You may not receive consular access. You could also face arbitrary detention with no contact with the outside world. Ordered departure On February 28, 2022, the U.S.
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Level 4
Do Not Travel
Safety Guidance for Belarus
Practical safety information for visitors, from US State Department country information (last updated December 29, 2025).
Demonstrations
intended to be peaceful can sometimes become confrontational. For this reason, it is recommended that U.S. citizens avoid all demonstrations and protest gatherings. Demonstrations, both organized and spontaneous, are infrequent in Belarus. Localized street disturbances relating to political events are more likely in Minsk or larger cities than in smaller towns and villages. Authorities have used force to disperse demonstrators, including those who are peacefully demonstrating. Bystanders, including foreign nationals, may face the possibility of arrest or detention . Foreigners may be placed under surveillance . Hotel rooms, telephones, and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched.
Taking photographs
of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in problems with authorities; these sites are not always clearly marked and application of these restrictions is subject to interpretation.
Crime
Belarus has a low rate of street crime. Violent crime against foreigners is rare; criminals have been known to use force if met with resistance from victims. Common street crime, such as mugging and pickpocketing, occurs most frequently near public transportation venues, near hotels frequented by foreigners, and/or at night in poorly-lit areas. Exercise caution when visiting bars, casinos and night clubs, and do not leave your drink unattended. There have been reports of travelers being drugged and subsequently robbed or assaulted while visiting night clubs. Prostitutes at hotels may attempt to open hotel room doors in search of customers. Local and transnational organized criminal activity exists in Belarus. Most casinos and adult clubs are operated by criminal elements and should be avoided. Theft of vehicle parts and car vandalism is common.
Internet-Dating Schemes and Cyber-Crime
"Internet brides" are advertised on several websites and are not always legitimate. Often, potential suitors in the United States lose thousands of dollars sending money to people they have never met and will never hear from again. In some cases, the foreigner is invited to visit Belarus; the Belarusian “friend” collects money for lodging and transportation expenses and then disappears.
Cyber-crime
is well developed in Belarus. Merchandise orders with fraudulent credit cards, ID theft, hacking/blackmail schemes, and advance-fee fraud are gaining in popularity. If doing business electronically with persons or firms in Belarus, proceed with extreme caution. Use only ATMs located inside major banks. Use of credit and debit cards is not recommended; there have been reports of U.S. citizens having their ATM or credit cards skimmed resulting in fraudulent charges or money stolen from their accounts. Be aware that due to a lack of tourism infrastructure in Belarus, transferring funds from abroad, replacing stolen traveler's checks or airline tickets, or canceling credit cards can be difficult in Belarus.
Counterfeit and pirated goods
are widely available. Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law. In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.
Sophisticated criminal investigations
may be inconclusive because of a lack of resources and/or political will. We have received reports of harassment of U.S. citizens at border crossings. We recommend that you report any crimes immediately to the local police and to the U.S. Embassy in Minsk. See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.
Victims of Crime
Report crimes to the local police by dialing 102 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +375 17 210 1283. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime that occurs in Belarus. The local equivalents to the “911” emergency lines in Belarus are: 101 for Fire and Rescue Squad; 102 for Police; and 103 for Ambulance (Medical Emergency). See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas . We can: help you find appropriate medical care assist you in reporting a crime to the police contact relatives or friends with your written consent explain the local criminal justice process in general terms provide a list of local attorneys provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
Domestic Violence
U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance.
Tourism
The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance .
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.
Belarus Population & Demographics
Population of 9,132,629, growth trends, economy, and more.
Crime & Safety in Neighboring Countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Belarus safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Belarus at Level 4 of 4 (Do Not Travel). The homicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 is low by global standards.
What is the crime rate in Belarus?
Belarus has an intentional homicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 people (2019, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #106 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Belarus?
Belarus 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 Belarus compare to other countries?
Belarus's homicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 is below the world average of 5.2 and above the Europe average of 1.6.