Is South Africa safe in 2026?

South Africa scores 76.8/100 on the live safety index — generally safe. The main pressure on the score comes from crime, economy, political stability. The 24-hour AI forecast calls the trend stable (projected 74.7/100).

30-day trend

South Africa's score changed by −0.4 over the last 22 days (77.2 → 76.8) — within normal day-to-day noise. No single event moved the index.

Risk factors

Open the interactive country card to inspect current factors. For historical factor data and integrations, see the customer API.

Conflict & War

1.4/34.1 safety points.

Nuclear threats & incidents

Nuclear index: 3.5/100. Does not affect the Safety Index.

Our index tracks nuclear weapons development, tests, radiation incidents and threats to use nuclear weapons. It also includes explicitly threatened countries. This is our own index, not a probability of nuclear war.

Official travel advisory

2 Exercise Increased Caution

The U.S. State Department places South Africa at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution citing terrorism, kidnapping, unrest and crime. Our live index reads 76.8/100. That advisory was last revised May 27, 2025, 507 days ago; the index above is recomputed continuously from current reporting.

Source: U.S. Department of State, revised May 27, 2025. Levels run 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). This page is not travel advice.

Latest recorded events

• A gunman kills at least 4 people in shooting after South Africa memorial service
  Crime · severity 5/10 · Associated Press · Oct 15, 2026 19:44 UTC
• 6 Members of South Africa’s Biggest Party Are Killed in Shootings
  Crime · severity 5/10 · New York Times · Oct 15, 2026 19:22 UTC
• South African fuel prices to jump this week on Iran war impact
  Economy · severity 2/10 · Reuters · Oct 5, 2026 15:52 UTC
• Mass Shootings Surge in South Africa as Illegal Guns Flood Streets
  Crime · severity 6/10 · New York Times · Oct 2, 2026 19:15 UTC
• Protesters against illegal immigration in South Africa call for more deportations
  Political · severity 2/10 · Associated Press · Oct 1, 2026 05:51 UTC
• Why the U.S. Is Imposing New Visa Restrictions on South Africa
  Sanctions · severity 3/10 · New York Times · Sep 30, 2026 14:07 UTC

24-hour forecast

Trend: stable · projected score 74.7/100 (generated Oct 15, 2026 23:00 UTC)

Multiple violent shooting incidents targeting political figures and civilians indicate a deteriorating security environment.

Compared with nearby countries

Open South Africa on the live map →