Washington DC

Is Washington DC safe?

For visitors, mostly yes. Washington's crime has fallen fast: the Metropolitan Police Department recorded 274 homicides in 2023, 187 in 2024 and 127 in 2025. By 7 October 2026, the count stood at 78, another 29% lower than at the same point last year.

That still leaves a rate of roughly 18 per 100,000 in 2025, higher than Chicago and five times New York. But the violence is concentrated in a handful of neighbourhoods, mostly in the east and south-east of the city, far from the museums, monuments and hotels. We score DC 67.

Where the crime is

The National Mall, the Capitol, the White House area, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom and the Wharf are busy, well lit and patrolled by several police forces at once: MPD, US Park Police, Capitol Police and Secret Service. Serious crime against visitors there is rare.

Most shootings happen in Wards 7 and 8 east of the Anacostia River, and in parts of north-east DC. Not every number is improving. MPD's figures show assaults with a dangerous weapon up 40% in 2026, to 1,000 by early October, even as homicides and robberies fell. Overall violent crime was up 10% on the same point in 2025.

For visitors, everyday crime is more likely:

• Phone snatching on the street and at Metro doors, sometimes by teenagers on bikes or scooters.
• Car break-ins and thefts. MPD logged 5,372 thefts from cars in 2025. Leave nothing visible, even for a short stop.
• Late-night crowds. Navy Yard and U Street draw large groups of teenagers on warm weekend nights. In March 2026 MPD set up a juvenile curfew zone around Navy Yard after a group of about 200 gathered near the Metro entrance.

The federal takeover and the National Guard

In August 2025 President Trump declared a crime emergency in Washington, placed MPD under federal direction for a month and deployed the National Guard, alongside federal agents on the streets. The police order expired after 30 days, but the Guard stayed. In November 2025 two West Virginia Guard members were shot a few blocks from the White House.

A federal judge ruled in November 2025 that using the Guard for crime deterrence in DC was unlawful, but an appeals court paused that ruling while the case continues. According to the Washington Examiner, the deployment was extended in July 2026 until 2029 and had grown to about 5,000 personnel.

The White House credits the deployment with the fall in crime; city officials and many researchers point out that homicides were already falling sharply in 2024. For a visitor, the practical effect is more uniformed personnel around the Mall, Union Station and Metro stations. Carry ID, follow instructions at checkpoints, and expect protests, which are common in DC and usually peaceful.

Is Metro safe?

Metro is the easiest way around and is safer than it was. Metro Transit Police counted 368 Part I crimes, such as robbery and assault, in the first half of 2026, down from 429 a year earlier. Robberies fell from 121 to 78 and aggravated assaults from 73 to 60. Most incidents are thefts of phones and bags. Ride in a car with other passengers late at night, and keep your phone away from the doors as they close.

Roads, heat and storms

DC's streets are safer than most US cities'. The National Safety Council estimates road deaths fell 52% in 2025, to about 25, roughly 3.6 per 100,000. Pedestrians are a large share of victims, and the toll was rising again in 2026. Watch for right-turning cars and e-scooters on pavements.

Air is fairly clean: EPA monitors averaged 7.3 to 8.0 µg/m³ of fine particlesPM2.5Tiny airborne particles 2.5 micrometres across or smaller. They reach deep into the lungs and are the air pollutant most linked to early death.More in the glossary over 2023 to 2025. Summer is hot and humid, with long walks between Mall museums in the sun. Thunderstorms can cause flash flooding in underpasses and low streets. Hospitals are excellent but expensive, so carry travel insurance.

How to stay safe in DC

• Stay in Downtown, Dupont Circle, Capitol Hill, Georgetown or the Wharf.
• Keep your phone in your hand only when you need it, especially near Metro doors.
• Use Metro or a ride app at night instead of walking long empty blocks.
• Leave nothing in parked cars.
• Carry water in summer and use museums for shade.

Our United States page covers healthcare costs and entry rules for the whole country.

How we scored it

Health and environment (85) and natural hazards (80) are the strongest factors. Violent crime (50) is the weakest: homicides are falling fast, but a rate near 18 per 100,000 and rising weapon assaults still put DC in the middle band of our rubric. Road safety (72) reflects 2025's sharp fall in deaths.