{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/afghanistan/herat","updatedAt":"2026-09-18T15:39:34.912Z","place":{"city":"Herat","country":"Afghanistan","countryCode":"AF","lat":34.34817,"lon":62.19967},"safety":{"score":18,"level":"HIGH_RISK","answer":"Elevated risk — reconsider","saferThanPctOfCountries":6,"confidence":0.89,"caps":[{"max":18,"reason":"Level 4 advisory — \"Do Not Travel\""},{"max":32,"reason":"Terrorism deaths 99/million"}],"databaseScore":14,"travellerSentiment":{"score":36,"label":"Mostly negative","summary":"Recent traveler reports indicate widespread fear and unease, with visitors citing arbitrary checks, surveillance, and the oppressive atmosphere as major stressors, despite some noting the city's historical beauty.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":15,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":34,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":36,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":36,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":0,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":20,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":60,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":4,"label":"Do Not Travel","updated":"Fri, 20 Feb 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/afghanistan-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":4,"label":"Advises against all travel","updated":"2026-07-30T10:36:13Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/afghanistan"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":4,"label":"Avoid all travel","updated":"2026-09-09T10:13:48.140000-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/afghanistan"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":4.0324584656778,"display":"4.0 / 100k","year":"2021","score":72,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":6,"display":"6.0%","year":"2014","score":83,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":98.91864382881433,"display":"98.9 / million","year":"2021","score":7,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":24.1,"display":"24.1 / 100k","year":"2021","score":34,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":28.2258568,"display":"28/100","year":"2024","score":28,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":23.6535886,"display":"24/100","year":"2024","score":24,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":21.3643608,"display":"21/100","year":"2024","score":21,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":13.7358099,"display":"14/100","year":"2024","score":14,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":30.5994864,"display":"31/100","year":"2024","score":31,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":19.2473331,"display":"19/100","year":"2024","score":19,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":574300,"display":"574k residents","year":null,"score":74,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":74.7,"display":"74.7 / 100","year":null,"score":21,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":50.1,"display":"50.1%","year":"2012","score":15,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":49,"display":"US AQI 49 · Good","year":null,"score":90,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":3.525529744,"display":"4 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":15,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":39,"display":"September: highs ~39°C · extreme heat","year":null,"score":62,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":4,"display":"Level 4 — Do Not Travel · 2 govts","year":null,"score":0,"source":"CA / US"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":2,"display":"High risk","year":null,"score":34,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":15,"display":"15 / 100 (Mostly negative)","year":null,"score":15,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"No — Herat is extremely unsafe for travelers due to Taliban repression, terrorism risk, and arbitrary detention, despite a recent increase in foreign tourist visits.","summary":"Herat remains under strict Taliban control with pervasive risks of wrongful detention, kidnapping, terrorism, and violent repression of dissent, particularly targeting women and foreigners. While air quality is good and extreme heat is the primary environmental hazard, the security situation is dire, with official advisories unanimous in urging against all travel. Recent incidents include attacks on mosques and violent crackdowns on protests, underscoring the volatility.","robberyRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom or political leverage pose a significant risk to foreigners, particularly near guesthouses and transport hubs."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded markets like Herat Bazaar and near mosques, though violent crime is a greater concern."},"safeAreas":["Guzerat District (Residential West)"],"avoidAreas":["Downtown Herat (City Center), Jihad Square Area, Airport Vicinity"],"scams":["Fake tour guides charging excessive fees for restricted or dangerous areas","Impersonation of officials demanding bribes or documents under threat of detention"],"zones":[{"name":"Downtown Herat (City Center)","level":"avoid","note":"High risk of terrorism, kidnapping, and arbitrary detention; frequent in central areas near government buildings and bazaars."},{"name":"Jihad Square Area","level":"avoid","note":"Site of repeated violent crackdowns on protests; high Taliban security presence and risk of sudden violence."},{"name":"Herat Bazaar (Chahar Suq)","level":"caution","note":"Moderate pickpocketing and theft risk; avoid carrying valuables and remain alert to surveillance."},{"name":"Friday Mosque (Jama Masjid) Area","level":"caution","note":"Target of past mosque attacks; exercise extreme caution during prayer times and avoid large gatherings."},{"name":"Guzerat District (Residential West)","level":"safe","note":"Lower-profile residential area with fewer security incidents; still avoid night travel and maintain low profile."},{"name":"Kohsan District (Northern Edge)","level":"caution","note":"Less patrolled but prone to informal checkpoints and smuggling-related tensions; avoid after dark."},{"name":"Airport Vicinity","level":"avoid","note":"High military presence and risk of wrongful detention or vehicle searches; only use for essential transit."},{"name":"Herat University Area","level":"caution","note":"Surveillance and restrictions on movement; avoid gatherings or any perceived dissent; women face heightened restrictions."}]}}