Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria in South Africa, Caracas in Venezuela and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea have emerged as the world’s most unsafe cities, according to Numbeo’s mid-year 2025 Crime Index. The report ranks cities based on residents’ perceptions of crime and safety, highlighting sharp contrasts across global urban centres.
The Numbeo index compiles data submitted by residents regarding crime levels, safety at night, worries of being mugged, and law enforcement response. Cities with lower safety scores tend to show higher fear of crimes, including violent offences and property-related incidents. The 2025 mid-year ranking offers insight into urban crime perceptions worldwide.
Where do Indian cities lie
Among Indian cities, Mangalore ranks highest at 48th globally with a safety index of 74.2, placing it ahead of several European and North American cities. Vadodara (85th, safety index 69.2), Ahmedabad (93rd, 68.2), Surat (106th, 66.6), and Jaipur (117th, 65.2) also feature in the upper-middle tier, reflecting relatively favourable safety perceptions.
However, other Indian metros rank significantly lower. Thiruvananthapuram appears at 148th (61.1), Chennai at 157th (60.3), Pune at 166th (58.7), and Chandigarh at 175th (57.4). Hyderabad is placed at 176th (57.3), and Mumbai follows at 186th with a safety index of 55.9.
National capital Delhi is placed near the bottom at 314th, with a safety index of just 40.9. Ghaziabad (311th, 41.6), Noida (284th, 44.9), and Gurgaon (275th, 46.0) also fare poorly, pointing to rising concerns over public safety in the National Capital Region (NCR).
10 most unsafe cities in 2025
Major South African cities dominate the bottom tier
Pietermaritzburg in South Africa is in the bottom of the list with a safety index of just 17.3, followed closely by Pretoria (18.2), with Caracas, Venezuela and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea having a tie at the score of 18.6, indicating residents’ deep concerns over personal security and local crime conditions. These cities are consistently flagged for issues such as robbery, gang violence, and weak law enforcement presence.
South African cities dominate the bottom tier, with four out of the ten least safe cities being from the country. Durban (19.5), Johannesburg (19.2), and Port Elizabeth (21.7) also feature prominently, pointing to ongoing challenges in policing and crime prevention.
US and Latin American cities rank low on safety
In Latin America, besides Caracas, cities like Rio de Janeiro (24.8), Salvador (23.3), and San Pedro Sula in Honduras (20.6) continue to struggle with crime. San Pedro Sula, previously known for being among the most violent cities globally, retains its low safety perception among locals.
In the United States, Memphis (21.6), Baltimore (27.6), and Detroit (27.0) are among the bottom-ranked cities for safety. Concerns include gun violence, theft, and drug-related crimes. Latin American and American cities also report concerns over petty crimes and gang activity in certain areas.
Other global cities at the lower end of the safety index include Recife, Fortaleza, and Guayaquil, reinforcing broader concerns across parts of South America and sub-Saharan Africa.
Abu Dhabi ranked the safest city across the world
On the other end of the spectrum, cities like Abu Dhabi, Taipei, and Doha continue to rank among the safest globally, based on low crime perception and better public safety standards. These cities report minimal incidents of violent crime, with residents expressing higher confidence in law enforcement and overall urban safety.
The Numbeo index compiles data submitted by residents regarding crime levels, safety at night, worries of being mugged, and law enforcement response. Cities with lower safety scores tend to show higher fear of crimes, including violent offences and property-related incidents. The 2025 mid-year ranking offers insight into urban crime perceptions worldwide.
Where do Indian cities lie
Among Indian cities, Mangalore ranks highest at 48th globally with a safety index of 74.2, placing it ahead of several European and North American cities. Vadodara (85th, safety index 69.2), Ahmedabad (93rd, 68.2), Surat (106th, 66.6), and Jaipur (117th, 65.2) also feature in the upper-middle tier, reflecting relatively favourable safety perceptions.
However, other Indian metros rank significantly lower. Thiruvananthapuram appears at 148th (61.1), Chennai at 157th (60.3), Pune at 166th (58.7), and Chandigarh at 175th (57.4). Hyderabad is placed at 176th (57.3), and Mumbai follows at 186th with a safety index of 55.9.
National capital Delhi is placed near the bottom at 314th, with a safety index of just 40.9. Ghaziabad (311th, 41.6), Noida (284th, 44.9), and Gurgaon (275th, 46.0) also fare poorly, pointing to rising concerns over public safety in the National Capital Region (NCR).
10 most unsafe cities in 2025
Major South African cities dominate the bottom tier
Pietermaritzburg in South Africa is in the bottom of the list with a safety index of just 17.3, followed closely by Pretoria (18.2), with Caracas, Venezuela and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea having a tie at the score of 18.6, indicating residents’ deep concerns over personal security and local crime conditions. These cities are consistently flagged for issues such as robbery, gang violence, and weak law enforcement presence.
South African cities dominate the bottom tier, with four out of the ten least safe cities being from the country. Durban (19.5), Johannesburg (19.2), and Port Elizabeth (21.7) also feature prominently, pointing to ongoing challenges in policing and crime prevention.
US and Latin American cities rank low on safety
In Latin America, besides Caracas, cities like Rio de Janeiro (24.8), Salvador (23.3), and San Pedro Sula in Honduras (20.6) continue to struggle with crime. San Pedro Sula, previously known for being among the most violent cities globally, retains its low safety perception among locals.
In the United States, Memphis (21.6), Baltimore (27.6), and Detroit (27.0) are among the bottom-ranked cities for safety. Concerns include gun violence, theft, and drug-related crimes. Latin American and American cities also report concerns over petty crimes and gang activity in certain areas.
Other global cities at the lower end of the safety index include Recife, Fortaleza, and Guayaquil, reinforcing broader concerns across parts of South America and sub-Saharan Africa.
Abu Dhabi ranked the safest city across the world
On the other end of the spectrum, cities like Abu Dhabi, Taipei, and Doha continue to rank among the safest globally, based on low crime perception and better public safety standards. These cities report minimal incidents of violent crime, with residents expressing higher confidence in law enforcement and overall urban safety.
You may also like
Mel C working on huge film as fulll Spice Girls reunion hits 'problem'
Patient numbers up 1,300% in 5 yrs at Hyderabad drug treatment clinic
Ozzy Osbourne funeral details 'revealed' with moving nod to hometown
Indore: IMC Reviews Preparations To Launch Unified Digital ID For All Civic Taxes
Matthew Perry's doctor pleads guilty to supplying star with ketamine before his death
