Countries to Avoid in 2026
July 12, 2026 — Rankings updated daily from 40+ data sources
These countries have the highest danger ratings, with a majority of government travel advisories at level 4 (Do Not Travel).
- 1 South Sudan 3.6
- 2 Sudan 3.6
- 3 Yemen 3.7
- 4 Mali 3.7
- 5 Afghanistan 3.8
- 6 Democratic Republic of the Congo 3.9
- 7 Haiti 3.9
- 8 Central African Republic 3.9
- 9 Somalia 3.9
- 10 Syria 3.9
- 11 Russia 4.0
- 12 Ukraine 4.0
- 13 Niger 4.1
- 14 Iran 4.2
- 15 Iraq 4.5
- 16 Burkina Faso 4.6
- 17 Palestine 4.8
- 18 Lebanon 4.8
- 19 Libya 4.9
- 20 Western Sahara 5.2
- 21 Belarus 5.9
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between countries to avoid and the most dangerous countries ranking?
The most-dangerous ranking is sorted purely by the lowest 1-10 safety scores, while this list focuses on countries that official government advisories currently recommend avoiding. The two overlap heavily but are not identical, because advisories also reflect diplomatic and consular factors.
Which government advisories does this list rely on?
We aggregate official travel advisories from multiple governments, including the United States, Canada, Australia and several European foreign ministries. Together with 40+ other public sources they feed the five weighted pillars (conflict 30%, crime 25%, health 20%, governance 15%, environment 10%), refreshed daily.
How current is this list of countries to avoid?
It is rebuilt every day from the latest advisory levels and safety scores. A Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory weighs heavily toward a low score rather than capping it at a fixed number, so escalations show up within 24 hours.