Ghana Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Ghana
US State Department Travel Advisory
Exercise Increased Caution
Updated April 8, 2025
Ghana recorded 1.8 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2022, a rate that is low by global standards. That places Ghana #120 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Africa average of 7.6 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. Homicide rates have fallen 12% over the past decade (from 2.1 in 2012). For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Ghana at Level 2 of 4: Exercise Increased Caution.
Homicide Rate
1.8 /100k
Safety Rank
#76 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 2 of 4
Data Year
2022
Homicide Rate Trend (2001-2022)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide rates have fallen 12% over the past decade (from 2.1 in 2012). Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Ghana Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Who Is Affected
In Ghana, the homicide rate for men is 2.8× higher than the rate for women — 2.7 vs 1.0 per 100,000 (2022).
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 Ghana:
Updated to reflect threats against women travelers and increased risks in specific regions. Exercise increased caution in Ghana due to crime and violence against women travelers and lesbian, gay, and bisexual travelers . Some areas of Ghana have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Reconsider Travel to: The Upper East Region, North East Region, Upper West Region, and the western portion of the Savannah Region (all areas west of the N12 Highway) that shares a border with Burkina Faso and Cte d'Ivoire due to civil unrest and crime.
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.
Ghana Population & Demographics
Population of 34,427,414, growth trends, economy, and more.
Crime & Safety in Neighboring Countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ghana safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Ghana at Level 2 of 4 (Exercise Increased Caution). The homicide rate of 1.8 per 100,000 is low by global standards.
What is the crime rate in Ghana?
Ghana has an intentional homicide rate of 1.8 per 100,000 people (2022, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #120 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Ghana?
Ghana 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 Ghana compare to other countries?
Ghana's homicide rate of 1.8 per 100,000 is below the world average of 5.2 and below the Africa average of 7.6.