Is South Africa safe in 2026?
South Africa scores 80.6/100 on the live safety index — generally safe. The main pressure on the score comes from crime, economy, political instability. The score has been stable for 23 days. The 24-hour AI forecast calls the trend stable (projected 80.6/100).
80.6 /100generally safe
30-day trend
South Africa's score fell by −3.0 over the last 30 days (83.5 → 80.6).
Threat breakdown
| Category | Pressure | Score / cap |
|---|---|---|
| Crime | 9.5 / 15 | |
| Economy | 2.3 / 8 | |
| Political instability | 3.5 / 15 | |
| Natural disasters | 0.9 / 5 | |
| Ecology | 0.1 / 1 | |
| Public health | 0.2 / 3 | |
| Military conflict | 2.2 / 30 | |
| Nuclear risk | 0.4 / 12 | |
| Internet freedom | 0.2 / 7 | |
| Sanctions | 0.0 / 4 |
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 South Africa at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution citing terrorism, kidnapping, unrest and crime. Our live index reads 80.6/100. That advisory was last revised May 27, 2025, 462 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
- Scientists probe if herpes virus is killing sardines off South Africa
- Late snow blankets parts of southern Africa as winter nears its end
- Johannesburg's water crisis angers voters, drives rich off-grid
- South African clothing factories struggle after migrant workers flee
- South Africa plans new rules on ex-leaders' foreign trips after Zuma's visit to India - Jacob Zuma was pictured with a businessmen allegedly at the heart of a corruption scandal in South Africa
- South African coalition party goes to court over law that angered Trump
24-hour forecast
Trend: stable · projected score 80.6/100 (generated )
Scattered economic and ecological concerns lack an immediate nationwide security shock.
Compared with nearby countries
| Country | Score | 0–100 | vs South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 80.6 | — | |
| Lesotho | 80.9 | +0.4 | |
| Botswana | 92.4 | +11.8 | |
| Eswatini | 79.1 | −1.4 | |
| Namibia | 90.8 | +10.2 | |
| Zimbabwe | 74.2 | −6.3 |