🇨🇴 Republic of Colombia
Visiting: Dangerous
Do not go to Colombia unprepared: the risks are real. Violent crime is the defining risk: homicide ranks 177th, one of the highest rates in the world. That said, LGBT rights are solid, ranking 24th, and freedom is only partly protected, at 74th. Road deaths are moderate, women's safety is poor and there is significant exposure to conflict, all ranking between 116th and 153rd.
Homicide
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Colombia: 24.7
Ranked 4th in the world for the highest homicide rate.
Why this rank?
Twenty-five killings per 100,000 people a year is two and a half times the ten that marks the deadliest countries.
Is it safe to visit?
A real risk for a visitor. 12,880 killings in 2024, more than four times the world average.
Why we updated the score?
The police have published their 2025 count, and the rate edged up. The UN takes its figure from the police a year later, so we used the new count.
Road Fatalities
Road-traffic deaths per 100,000 people per year — lower is better.
Colombia: 16.2
Ranked 65th in the world for the deadliest roads.
Why this rank?
Sixteen deaths per 100,000 people a year is just above the world average of fifteen.
Is it safe to visit?
Not safe on a motorbike, which is six in ten of the deaths, and a fifth are people on foot. In a car you're largely out of it.
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.
Colombia: 3.24
Ranked 28th most conflict-affected country in the world.
Why this rank?
484 people died in fighting inside Colombia in the year to July 2026, 173 of them civilians killed on purpose.
Is it safe to visit?
Not safe in the rural border regions and drug corridors, where the armed groups fight. Bogotá, Medellín and the cities tourists visit sit apart from it.
Freedom
Six freedoms rated 0–4 by Freedom House — protest, speech, press, religion, movement and due process. The weakest rating sets the colour, and the total places the country inside it — higher is better.
Colombia: 6.56
Ranked 74th freest country in the world.
Why this rank?
In Colombia the lowest are protest, press and due process at 2. Total 16 of 24.
Is it safe to visit?
One of Latin America's longest-standing democracies, with institutions that check executive power. Protest, press and due process carry significant limits outside the major cities.
LGBT Rights
LGBT equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Colombia: 7.1
Ranked 24th most equal in the world for LGBT people.
Why this rank?
Marriage has been legal since 2016, adoption included, with strong constitutional-court backing throughout. The law index scores 92, public opinion 50.
Is it safe to visit?
Fine. Bogotá and Medellín have thriving open scenes. Violence against trans women in poorer regions remains serious.
Women's Safety
Women's safety — 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 — higher is better.
Colombia: 6.12
Ranked 36th least safe country in the world for women.
Why this rank?
Only 42 percent of women feel safe out alone at night, the courts rate below fair, and partner violence is twelve percent. Attacks on women were recorded steadily across 2024.
Is it safe to visit?
Take care as a woman travelling alone in Colombia.