Is Zambia Safe to Visit?
Independent travel safety assessment · Updated March 28, 2026
48
Reconsider Travel
Significant safety concerns — check travel advisories before planning
D
Zambia is a travel destination with a Nerq Safety Score of 48.2/100 (D). Travel advisory: Reconsider Travel. Southern African country. Victoria Falls. Safari.
Overall assessment: Zambia is travel with significant caution.
Safety Score Breakdown
Crime & Personal Safety (30%)90/100 Political Stability (20%)61/100 Health & Medical (15%)52/100 Natural Disaster Risk (15%)70/100 Infrastructure & Transport (10%)51/100 Traveler Rights (10%)61/100
Key Findings
✓Crime & Personal Safety: 90/100 — Very Low Risk
⚠Political Stability: 61/100 — Low Risk
⚠Health & Medical: 52/100 — Medium Risk
✓Natural Disaster Risk: 70/100 — Low Risk
⚠Infrastructure & Transport: 51/100 — Medium Risk
⚠Traveler Rights: 61/100 — Low Risk
Official Travel Advisories
🇺🇸 US State Dept: Reconsider Travel
Advisory estimated from Nerq Safety Score. Check official sources for current status.
Is Zambia safe for solo travelers?
Zambia has an overall safety score of 48.2/100, so solo travelers should exercise additional caution.
Crime & personal safety score: 90/100. Infrastructure & transport score: 51/100.
Solo travel requires significant preparation and local knowledge.
Is Zambia safe for women?
Traveler rights score: 61/100.
Women travelers should research local customs and take standard precautions.
Check current travel advisories for specific guidance on women's safety in Zambia.
Is Zambia safe for LGBTQ+ travelers?
Traveler rights score: 61/100.
LGBTQ+ travelers should research local laws and social attitudes.
Is Zambia safe for families?
Overall safety: 48.2/100. Health & medical: 52/100. Infrastructure: 51/100.
Family travel requires significant preparation — research healthcare, safety, and logistics in detail.
Key Safety Risks in Zambia
Crime & Personal Safety — Very Low Risk
Score: 90/100.
Political Stability — Low Risk
Score: 61/100.
Health & Medical — Medium Risk
Score: 52/100.
Natural Disaster Risk — Low Risk
Score: 70/100.
Infrastructure & Transport — Medium Risk
Score: 51/100.
Traveler Rights — Low Risk
Score: 61/100.
Practical Travel Information
Emergency Numbers
Check local emergency numbers before traveling. International emergency: 112 (in many countries).
Health & Medical
Health score: 52/100. Research healthcare facilities before traveling. Travel insurance strongly recommended.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure score: 51/100. Adequate infrastructure in major areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zambia safe to visit right now?
Zambia has a Nerq Safety Score of 48.2/100 (D). Travel advisory: Reconsider Travel. Check official travel advisories before planning.
Is Zambia safe for solo female travelers?
Traveler rights score: 61/100. Research local customs and take standard precautions.
Is tap water safe to drink in Zambia?
Health & medical score: 52/100. Bottled water recommended as a precaution.
What is the biggest safety risk in Zambia?
Based on Nerq analysis, the lowest-scoring dimension is Infrastructure & Transport (51/100). Research this area before traveling.
Is Zambia safe for families?
Overall safety: 48.2/100. Health: 52/100. Infrastructure: 51/100. Family travel requires significant preparation.
Do I need vaccinations for Zambia?
Health score: 52/100. Check with your doctor and review WHO recommendations for Zambia before traveling. Routine vaccinations should be up to date.
Is Zambia safe for LGBTQ+ travelers?
Traveler rights score: 61/100. Research local laws and social attitudes.
How we calculated this score
Zambia's safety score of 48.2/100 (D) is based on data from the Global Peace Index, UNODC crime statistics, World Bank governance indicators, WHO health data, and government travel advisories. The score reflects 6 travel-specific dimensions: crime & personal safety (90/100), political stability (61/100), health & medical (52/100), natural disaster risk (70/100), infrastructure & transport (51/100), and traveler rights (61/100).
Nerq indexes over 7.5 million entities across 26 registries including 158 countries, enabling direct cross-destination comparison. Scores are updated as new data becomes available.
Full methodology documentation · Machine-readable data (JSON API)
Last updated: March 28, 2026 · Data sources: Global Peace Index, UNODC, WHO, World Bank, US State Dept