24/7 Wall St. Insights

• The United States ranks all countries in a 4-tier system from safest to most dangerous travel
• There are currently 22 countries with threat level 4
• Also: Discover the next Nvidia 

Americans love to travel, especially during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Additionally, summer holidays like Memorial Day and Fourth of July are popular times for vacationing. About half of Americans pack their bags one to two times a year, while close to a third of U.S. citizens vacation three to four times annually. Many Americans favor domestic travel, due to its convenience and ease on the pocketbook. But many still enjoy overseas travel, as well. 

When vacationing abroad, most Americans choose western European countries like the U.K., France, and Italy. The Dominican Republic is also a popular choice. Alternatively, plenty of Americans prefer more remote or exotic locales. For example, more than 700,000 Americans visited Vietnam in 2023.

Regardless of preference, when choosing which overseas nation to visit, it is important to check travel advisories and avoid countries marked at Level 4 (Do Not Travel). There are 22 countries with this threat level. In these locations, the danger to American tourists is severe. We’ve listed all of them below, along with the problems specific to each nation and the dangers travelers may face.

The United States ranks all countries and territories of the world in a 4-tier system from safest to most dangerous travel.

Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions

These are considered the safest countries to travel to. Travelers should exercise reasonable precautions such as remaining vigilant, keeping an eye on their belongings, not flashing money, and not drawing unwanted attention by being loud and obnoxious.

Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution

Countries at this level are fairly safe, but in some areas, the chances of civil unrest, crime, or harassment of tourists may be increased. Travelers should avoid areas considered higher risk.

Level 3 – Reconsider Travel

At this level, visitors may face significant risks to their lives and property. For example, a natural disaster may have occurred that has disrupted basic services, supplies, and medical care.

Level 4 – Do Not Travel

This is the State Department’s highest threat level rating. It applies in situations of dire danger, such as war, extreme terrorism, or armed rebellions. The U.S. government may not be able to assist citizens endangered in these countries.

Each of the following countries is ranked Level 4 by the U.S. State Department as of April 2024.

Why We Are Covering This

Traveling overseas can be exciting, educational, and relaxing. Visiting and getting to know different countries are opportunities that many of us remember for a lifetime. However, while most vacationers place priority on fun and good times, we have to remember the most important aspect is safety. We might assume we know which countries are dangerous enough to avoid, but travel advisories can change quickly. For example, just a year ago, Israel was a relatively safe place to travel to. With the recent war on Gaza, this is no longer the case. This list will help you plan your leisure travel, while remaining safe.

1. Afghanistan

• Problems: With the departure of American troops in 2021, the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan. The new government is guilty of human rights abuses against its own citizens and foreigners.
• Risks: Terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime
• Other: the country suffers from the effects of drought, earthquakes, mines and unexploded ordnance, and shortages of medical supplies and other necessities

2. Belarus

• Problems: Belarus is allied with Russia and has been used as a staging ground in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While it is not directly involved in the war, it could become so in the future
• Risks: Russian military buildup, arbitrary law enforcement, potential civil unrest, risk of detention
• Other: Poor relations with the United States mean that U.S. citizens could be detained or harassed there

3. Burkina Faso

• Problems: Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are active in Burkina Faso. A state of emergency is in effect in areas of the country bordering Mali
• Risks: Terrorism, crime, and kidnapping

4. Central African Republic

• Problems: The Central African Republic has weak authority over its territory, with large swaths of the country under the control of armed rebel groups
• Risks: Crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping
• Other: Demonstrations, violence, and unexpected closures of airports, roads, and borders are not uncommon

5. Haiti

• Problems: Haiti has perennial problems with natural disasters and civil unrest. Armed gangs roam the country and have been known to wait near the airport to hijack vehicles with newly arrived foreigners
• Risks: Kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure

6. Iran

• Problems: Iran is involved in regional power struggles with Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Some regions of Iran have separatist movements and major cities have seen protests over civil rights issues in the recent past.
• Risks: Terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary arrest of U.S. citizens
• Other: The country’s President was recently killed in a helicopter crash. It is still unclear how this might impact the stability of the country.

7. Iraq

• Problems: Iraq remains unstable in the long-term aftermath of two wars with a coalition of Western and regional powers. There are separatist movements in the north and south of the country.
• Risks: Terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, and civil unrest
• Other: Terrorists and weapons pass freely through the country from Iran to Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories. From time to time the U.S. and other powers carry out missile or air strikes against terrorists based in the country.

8. Israel

• Problems: Following a brutal terrorist attack sponsored by Hamas in October 2023, Israel launched an intense and still ongoing military operation to destroy the organization in occupied Gaza. Approximately 35,000 people have been killed.
• Risks: Terrorism and armed conflict
• Other: Medical care and basic necessities are in short supply. The State Department recommends that anyone going there leave DNA samples on file with their doctor in case they are needed for identification of their remains.

9. Libya

• Problems: Since the ouster of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been shattered by civil war with rival power centers in the major cities of Tripoli and Benghazi.
• Risks: Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict
• Other: The country has an uneasy peace at the moment but is not safe for foreigners.

10. Mali

• Problems: In the past two decades, Mali has been through civil wars and military takeovers. It continues to suffer from terrorism targeting foreigners, government facilities, and places of worship.
• Risks: Crime, terrorism, and kidnapping

11. Mexico

• Problems: The country is mostly safe for tourists but has some separatist movements in the south and problems with human trafficking and drug cartels.
• Risks: Crime is a risk in Guerrero state. Crime and kidnapping are dangers in the states of Colima, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.
• Other: The State Department issues travel advisories for individual states of Mexico.

12. Myanmar

• Problems: Under military rule for three years, Myanmar is fighting rebellions in various regions. Risks: Civil unrest, armed conflict, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, limited and/or inadequate healthcare and emergency medical resources, and areas with land mines and unexploded ordnances
• Other: It has come under international criticism for human rights abuses and harsh crackdowns on protestors and dissidents.

13. North Korea

• Problems: The reclusive government of North Korea uses its rivalry with South Korea and the United States as a means of staying in power despite the harsh deprivation of the country’s people. North Korea has a nuclear arsenal and is actively developing long-range missile technology to threaten the United States.
• Risks: Arrest and long-term detention
• Other: Foreign citizens have been detained for long periods of time, severely mistreated, and used as negotiating bargaining chips.

14. Russia

• Problems: Russia is under extreme economic sanctions for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which is really a continuation of the creeping annexation it launched with the takeover of Crimea in 2014. Because of poor relations with the United States and other Western countries, the danger of unlawful harassment and detention of innocent visitors is real.
• Risks: Potential for harassment of U.S. citizens, wrongful detention, arbitrary law enforcement, and the possibility of terrorism
• Other: International banking services are no longer available, and flights are sporadic.

15. Somalia

• Problems: Somalia has been unstable for decades, with regions of the country under the control of regional warlords. Piracy is a particular problem along its long Indian Ocean coastline at the mouth of the busy Red Sea. Terrorism is common and often directed at foreigners.
• Risks: Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues, kidnapping, and piracy

16. South Sudan

• Problems: Independent for only 13 years, South Sudan struggles with endemic crime and civil unrest. Widespread access to firearms is one of the legacies of decades of civil war.
• Risks: Crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict
• Other: The central government’s control of the country is tenuous, with regions fighting against one another and the central authorities.

17. Sudan

• Problems: Civil war in Sudan already split off the southern region of the country into the independent nation of South Sudan. This did not bring peace to the remainder of the country, as factions have continued to fight the central government. Civil unrest, natural disasters, and a refugee crisis are just the tip of the iceberg in Sudan’s severe problems.
• Risks: Armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping

18. Syria

• Problems: Syria’s civil war continues with dictator Bashar Al-Assad apparently firmly in power but unable to extend his control over all parts of the country.
• Risks: Terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and risk of unjust detention
• Other: Syria’s porous borders allow the movement of terrorists and materiel from Iran and Iraq to Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

19. Ukraine

• Problems: Russia is continuing its invasion of Ukraine despite international ostracism and severe economic sanctions. While active fighting is concentrated in the east, bombings and missile strikes happen randomly in population centers all over the country.
• Risks: Active armed conflict

20. Venezuela

• Problems: Venezuela is under socialist leadership and pursues an anti-American agenda. Economic problems and political repression in the country have led to a mass exodus of millions of people to neighboring countries and the United States.
• Risks: Crime, Civil unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary law enforcement, wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure

21. Yemen

• Problems: Yemen continues to be involved in civil war and is a hotbed of terrorism, crime, and human trafficking.
• Risks: Terrorism, civil unrest, crime, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines
• Other: The United States and the United Kingdom have carried out airstrikes in Yemen in retaliation for missiles fired at Red Sea shipping.

Resources to Keep You Safe

Regardless of where you travel outside the United States, here are some of the U.S. State Department’s resources to keep you safe:

• Travel Advisories – Find out the threat level to foreigners and the local conditions to be aware of for every country and territory in the world.
• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) – Enables the U.S. government to contact you in the event of an emergency with safety alerts and evacuation instructions if necessary.
• U.S. Embassies and Consulates – Contact information and Google maps links for every country where they are available.
• Lost or Stolen Passports – Everything you need to know about replacing your passport abroad.

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