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
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.