Guinea-Bissau Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Guinea-Bissau
US State Department Travel Advisory
Reconsider Travel
Updated December 11, 2025
Guinea-Bissau recorded 1.1 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2017, a rate that is low by global standards. That places Guinea-Bissau #145 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 68% over the past decade (from 3.5 in 2016). For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Guinea-Bissau at Level 3 of 4: Reconsider Travel.
Homicide Rate
1.1 /100k
Safety Rank
#51 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 3 of 4
Data Year
2017
Homicide Rate Trend (2016-2017)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide rates have fallen 68% over the past decade (from 3.5 in 2016). Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Guinea-Bissau Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Guinea-Bissau:
There were no changes to the advisory level. The "Crime" indicator was removed. The "Other" indicator was added. The advisory summary was updated. Reconsider travel to Guinea-Bissau due to unrest , inadequate health infrastructure, and landmines . Advisory Summary There is no U.S. embassy or consulate in Guinea-Bissau. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Consular services are provided by the U.S. embassy in Dakar, Senegal. Unrest Guinea-Bissau has had periods of political instability for decades, including political unrest in November 2025.
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.
Guinea-Bissau Population & Demographics
Population of 2,201,352, growth trends, economy, and more.
Crime & Safety in Neighboring Countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guinea-Bissau safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Guinea-Bissau at Level 3 of 4 (Reconsider Travel). Cited risks include crime. The homicide rate of 1.1 per 100,000 is low by global standards.
What is the crime rate in Guinea-Bissau?
Guinea-Bissau has an intentional homicide rate of 1.1 per 100,000 people (2017, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #145 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Guinea-Bissau?
Guinea-Bissau is currently at Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Advisory levels range from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
How does crime in Guinea-Bissau compare to other countries?
Guinea-Bissau's homicide rate of 1.1 per 100,000 is below the world average of 5.2 and below the Africa average of 7.6.