Is Ecuador safe in 2026?
Ecuador scores 78.8/100 on the live safety index — generally safe. The main pressure on the score comes from crime, natural disasters, political instability. The score has been stable for 10 days. The 24-hour AI forecast calls the trend stable (projected 77.7/100).
78.8 /100generally safe
30-day trend
Ecuador's score fell by −2.4 over the last 30 days (81.2 → 78.8).
Threat breakdown
| Category | Pressure | Score / cap |
|---|---|---|
| Crime | 9.6 / 15 | |
| Natural disasters | 1.6 / 5 | |
| Political instability | 4.0 / 15 | |
| Economy | 2.1 / 8 | |
| Military conflict | 3.2 / 30 | |
| Ecology | 0.1 / 1 | |
| Internet freedom | 0.4 / 7 | |
| Public health | 0.2 / 3 | |
| Sanctions | 0.0 / 4 | |
| Nuclear risk | 0.0 / 12 |
Higher category scores mean more threat pressure; each category is capped by its weight in the 0–100 index. How scores are computed.
Official travel advisory
2 Exercise Increased Caution
The U.S. State Department places Ecuador at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution citing terrorism, kidnapping, unrest and crime. Our live index reads 78.8/100. That advisory was last revised Aug 18, 2026, 14 days ago; the index above is recomputed continuously from current reporting.
Source: U.S. Department of State, revised Aug 18, 2026. Levels run 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). This page is not travel advice.
Latest recorded events
- US, Ecuador forces strike alleged drug smuggling boat
- US Treasury sanctions Ecuador-to-US cocaine trafficking network
- US conducts military operations against armed groups in northern Ecuador, near Colombia, under the Shield of the Americas: what is known
- Earthquake in Ecuador today: tremor recorded in Guayas province; epicenter, magnitude and details
- Eight bodies found in two graves in a mining area of Pucará, Ecuador; they were hand-tied and showed signs of mutilation
- On the front line of Ecuador's drugs war, police fight gangs, guns and corruption
24-hour forecast
Trend: stable · projected score 77.7/100 (generated )
Severe gang violence, killings and expanding military operations signal continued deterioration.
Compared with nearby countries
| Country | Score | 0–100 | vs Ecuador |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecuador | 78.8 | — | |
| Colombia | 69.6 | −9.2 | |
| Peru | 83.6 | +4.7 | |
| Panama | 88.4 | +9.6 | |
| Costa Rica | 90.3 | +11.5 | |
| Venezuela | 54.9 | −24.0 |