{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/iraq/erbil","updatedAt":"2026-08-08T10:35:49.546Z","place":{"city":"Erbil","country":"Iraq","countryCode":"IQ","lat":36.19117,"lon":44.00943},"safety":{"score":18,"level":"HIGH_RISK","answer":"Elevated risk — reconsider","saferThanPctOfCountries":6,"confidence":0.65,"caps":[{"max":18,"reason":"Level 4 advisory — \"Do Not Travel\""}],"databaseScore":18,"travellerSentiment":{"score":69,"label":"Mostly negative","summary":"Recent traveler reports describe feeling uneasy due to the political climate and occasional missile alerts, despite generally safe day‑to‑day interactions.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":35,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":49,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":69,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":0,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":35,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":68,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":4,"label":"Do Not Travel","updated":"Mon, 02 Mar 2026","url":"http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/iraq-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":4,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-07-22T16:11:21Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":4,"label":"Avoid all travel","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/iraq"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":9.46375217111484,"display":"9.5 / 100k","year":"2013","score":48,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":1.4,"display":"1.4%","year":"2011","score":97,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":6.529029062771277,"display":"6.5 / million","year":"2021","score":49,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":21.5,"display":"21.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":39,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":30.6332522,"display":"31/100","year":"2024","score":31,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":33.5897975,"display":"34/100","year":"2024","score":34,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":23.4634646,"display":"23/100","year":"2024","score":23,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":29.9154103,"display":"30/100","year":"2024","score":30,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":38.6096174,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":38.9686214,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":1612700,"display":"1.6M residents","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":48.9,"display":"48.9%","year":"2018","score":47,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":1.46,"display":"1.5%","year":"2018","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":58,"display":"US AQI 58 · Moderate","year":null,"score":86,"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":80,"display":"80 within 15 km · nearest ~0.2 km","year":null,"score":95,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":45,"display":"August: highs ~45°C · dangerous heat","year":null,"score":45,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 7 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":4,"display":"Level 4 — Do Not Travel · 2 govts","year":null,"score":0,"source":"US State Dept · Canada"}],"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 — Erbil is not safe for travelers due to the Level 4 \"Do Not Travel\" advisory from the U.S., U.K., and Canada.","summary":"The multi‑database profile assigns Erbil a composite safety index of 18/100 (HIGH RISK) and caps it at 0 because of the Level 4 travel advisory. While crime rates in the city are relatively low, the dominant risk stems from regional conflict, terrorism, and the broad political instability that underpins the advisory.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Mugging and armed robbery against visitors are rare; most incidents involve locals in peripheral areas, not central tourist zones."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing can occur in crowded markets and tourist sites; keep bags closed and use front pockets."},"safeAreas":["Ainkawa","Ankawa","Erbil International Airport","Kurdistan Region (general)","Old Town"],"avoidAreas":["Sulaimania","Zakho","Kani Masi"],"scams":["taxi overcharging","street vendors demanding payment for photos","fake tour guides charging inflated fees"],"zones":[{"name":"Ainkawa","level":"safe","note":"well-patrolled tourist area with good safety infrastructure and low crime"},{"name":"Ankawa","level":"safe","note":"Christian-majority neighborhood with vibrant cafes and nightlife, generally safe for visitors"},{"name":"Erbil International Airport","level":"caution","note":"heavy traffic and occasional security checkpoints require vigilance, especially after dark"},{"name":"Kurdistan Region (general)","level":"safe","note":"autonomous region with stable security and low crime rates"},{"name":"Old Town","level":"caution","note":"historic citadel area safe during daylight but poorly lit after dark, pickpocketing possible"},{"name":"Sulaimania","level":"avoid","note":"outside Erbil city limits, not part of the city and currently advised against non-essential travel"},{"name":"Zakho","level":"avoid","note":"border district near active conflict zones, strongly discouraged for travelers"},{"name":"Kani Masi","level":"caution","note":"residential area with occasional militia checkpoints, stay alert and avoid night travel"}]}}