Eritrea Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Eritrea
US State Department Travel Advisory
Exercise Increased Caution
Updated July 31, 2023
Eritrea recorded 15.6 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2012, a rate that is high by global standards. That places Eritrea #28 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Africa average of 7.6 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Eritrea at Level 2 of 4: Exercise Increased Caution.
Homicide Rate
15.6 /100k
Safety Rank
#168 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 2 of 4
Data Year
2012
Homicide Rate Trend (2012-2012)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Eritrea Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Armed Conflict Context
Eritrea 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
4(2022)
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Eritrea:
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed. Exercise increased caution in Eritrea due to travel restrictions, limited consular assistance, landmines, and wrongful detentions. Country Summary: The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Eritrea, as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside of Asmara. U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Eritrea, including dual U.S.-Eritrean nationals, have been arrested and detained without charge or on false charges.
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Level 4
Do Not Travel
Safety Guidance for Eritrea
Practical safety information for visitors, from US State Department country information (last updated July 08, 2021).
Travel Permits
All foreign nationals, including U.S. Embassy officials, are required to obtain permits for travel more than 25 km outside of Asmara. Applications for travel permits are available at the two Ministry of Tourism offices located on Harnet Avenue and Airport Road. If you encounter difficulties while outside of the Asmara area, the Embassy’s ability to provide consular services may be limited. Use caution when traveling near the Eritrea-Ethiopia border area. Remain on major roads in the border region due to unmarked minefields. The Eritrea-Ethiopia border is closed; there is no legal means to travel between Ethiopia and Eritrea by land. Foreign nationals generally are not permitted to approach or cross the Djibouti-Eritrea land border.
Crime
The Embassy is unable to quantify actual rates of crime as Eritrea does not publicly provide crime statistics, but crimes do occur and police have limited capacity to investigate. While most reported criminal incidents in Asmara involve crimes of opportunity, car and home burglaries and sexual assaults are also reported. U.S. citizens are encouraged to implement personal security practices such as: Avoid walking alone, especially at night. Do not display cash and valuable personal property. Maintain a low profile. Avoid doing anything that draws attention to you or your family. Remain alert to what is going on around you.
International Financial Scams
See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information.
Victims of Crime
U.S. citizen victims of crime should contact the U.S. Embassy as soon as possible. Report crimes to the local police at + (291)-1-127-799 and contact the U.S. Embassy at + (291) 1-120-004. In Asmara and throughout Eritrea, in an emergency, dial + (291) 1-127-799 for the police + (291) 1-202-099 for the fire department + (291) 1-202-914 / 201-917 / 201-606 (Orotta Hospital) for medical emergencies + (291) 1 – 185-400 (Halibet Hospital) for medical emergencies Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime. See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .
Domestic Violence
U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.
Tourism
Tourism industry infrastructure is minimal. Tourists participate in activities at their own risk. Emergency response capabilities are limited, and subsequent appropriate medical treatment may not be available in-country. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage .
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.
Eritrea Population & Demographics
Population of 3,535,603, growth trends, economy, and more.
Crime & Safety in Neighboring Countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eritrea safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Eritrea at Level 2 of 4 (Exercise Increased Caution). The homicide rate of 15.6 per 100,000 is high by global standards.
What is the crime rate in Eritrea?
Eritrea has an intentional homicide rate of 15.6 per 100,000 people (2012, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #28 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Eritrea?
Eritrea is currently at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Advisory levels range from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
How does crime in Eritrea compare to other countries?
Eritrea's homicide rate of 15.6 per 100,000 is above the world average of 5.2 and above the Africa average of 7.6.