Is Laos safe in 2026?
Laos scores 78.7/100 on the live safety index — generally safe. The main pressure on the score comes from political instability, economy, crime. The score has been stable for 23 days. The 24-hour AI forecast calls the trend stable (projected 77.9/100).
78.7 /100generally safe
30-day trend
Laos's score fell by −11.1 over the last 30 days (89.9 → 78.7).
Threat breakdown
| Category | Pressure | Score / cap |
|---|---|---|
| Political instability | 9.6 / 15 | |
| Economy | 3.2 / 8 | |
| Crime | 3.8 / 15 | |
| Natural disasters | 1.2 / 5 | |
| Internet freedom | 1.6 / 7 | |
| Ecology | 0.1 / 1 | |
| Public health | 0.3 / 3 | |
| Military conflict | 1.5 / 30 | |
| 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 Laos at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution citing crime and civil unrest. Our live index reads 78.7/100. That advisory was last revised Jul 28, 2026, 35 days ago; the index above is recomputed continuously from current reporting.
Source: U.S. Department of State, revised Jul 28, 2026. Levels run 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). This page is not travel advice.
Latest recorded events
- As floods devastate Mekong communities, economic strain, conflict compound crisis
- Laos says it can't determine cause of tourist deaths linked to methanol - Officials say they have no evidence of poisoning over the 2024 deaths because autopsies were not conducted.
- Laos distillery owner charged in mass poisoning deaths of tourists - Laos authorities have charged the owner of a distillery whose methanol-laced alcohol killed six travelers in November 2024, officials said Friday.
- Parents of Australian teens killed by tainted liquor in Laos are angry at expected charges - AP News - Parents of Australian teens killed by tainted liquor in Laos are angry at expected charges AP News
24-hour forecast
Trend: stable · projected score 77.9/100 (generated )
The methanol poisoning scandal and ongoing flood impacts are damaging the country's safety profile.
Compared with nearby countries
| Country | Score | 0–100 | vs Laos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laos | 78.7 | — | |
| Thailand | 79.3 | +0.6 | |
| Myanmar | 38.7 | −40.1 | |
| Cambodia | 80.4 | +1.7 | |
| Vietnam | 81.6 | +2.9 | |
| Macao | 90.0 | +11.3 |