π¨π³ People's Republic of China (δΈε½)
Visiting: Take care
There are caveats, but China is generally safe. Violent crime is close to non-existent, the 11th-lowest homicide rate, and women's safety is good, at 45th. Where it lags is freedom, which is tightly restricted, placed 142nd. LGBT rights are solid, ranking 47th, there is some exposure to conflict, at 100th, and the roads are hazardous, placed 126th.
Homicide
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people β lower is better.
China: 0.5
Ranked 11th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
Why this rank?
Half a killing per 100,000 people a year is comfortably under the one-per-100,000 mark where the safest countries sit.
Is it safe to visit?
As safe as anywhere for a visitor. China's own count, from 2020, gives a rate far below the world average.
Road Fatalities
Road-traffic deaths per 100,000 people per year β lower is better.
China: 17.4
Ranked 55th in the world for the deadliest roads.
Why this rank?
Seventeen deaths per 100,000 people a year is above the world average of fifteen, though well short of double it.
Is it safe to visit?
Not safe on the estimate, and it reaches everyone β a quarter of the deaths are on motorbikes, a fifth on bicycles and a third on foot.
Conflict
Conflict deaths inside the country in the last twelve months, as recorded by the Uppsala conflict database, civilians killed on purpose, and any UN sanctions or court order over a war. The worst of those sets the colour. Lower is better.
China: 1.90
Ranked 81st most conflict-affected country in the world.
Why this rank?
No conflict death is recorded in China in the year to July 2026. The last was in November 2023, inside the last five years.
Is it safe to visit?
Reasonable. Nothing is recorded since November 2023, and nothing armed reaches a visitor anywhere in the country.
Freedom
Six freedoms rated 0β4 by Freedom House β protest, speech, press, religion, movement and due process. The weakest rating sets the colour, and the total places the country inside it β higher is better.
China: 4.11
Ranked 39th least free country in the world.
Why this rank?
In China press and religion are rated 0, meaning absent. Due process and movement are 1 and 1, so a visitor who keeps the rules is left alone. Total 4 of 24.
Is it safe to visit?
Press and religion are rated absent, and the party controls media, online speech, religious practice and universities. A visitor who keeps to the rules is left alone, but everything online is watched.
LGBT Rights
LGBT equality in law and daily life β higher is better.
China: 5.6
Ranked 47th most equal in the world for LGBT people.
Why this rank?
Legal since 1997 with no protections or recognition, and censorship of LGBT content keeps tightening. Public opinion scores 66, well above the law at 47.
Is it safe to visit?
Fine in private, and big-city private life carries on. The public space shrinks yearly, with university groups shut and Shanghai Pride cancelled since 2020.
Women's Safety
Women's safety β feeling safe out at night, political violence against women, a fair hearing in court, and how normal violence at home is, with the night figure setting a floor on the colour β higher is better.
China: 8.11
Ranked 45th safest country in the world for women.
Why this rank?
Ninety-three percent of women feel safe walking alone at night, nearly the highest share recorded. The courts, rated poor for women, are what pull it down.
Is it safe to visit?
China is a safe country for a woman travelling alone.