Singapore

Singapore: one of the safest countries we score

Singapore earns 93, the highest score in this category, shared with Switzerland and Monaco. Our Singapore city page scores it on the city rubric, with more on neighbourhoods and getting around. Its homicide rateHomicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary was 0.07 per 100,000 people in 2023, which in practice means a few cases a year. Its roads are safer than Japan's or Britain's, and it ranks 8th of 163 on the 2026 Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary. The US State Department keeps it at Level 1 and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary describes violent crime and theft as rare.

That does not mean nothing can go wrong. Dengue is the most likely thing to make you ill, scams are the most common crime, and Singapore's laws catch out visitors who assume rules are like those at home.

Dengue, haze and heat

Dengue fever is endemic and spread by Aedes mosquitoes that bite during the day, often in housing estates, parks and gardens rather than in the countryside. Singapore had a record of more than 35,000 cases in 2020, and the National Environment Agency still maps active dengue clusters across the island every week. Repellent is the main protection; ask your doctor whether a dengue vaccine makes sense for you. Use it on walks in the Botanic Gardens, MacRitchie Reservoir or Pulau Ubin.

From June to October, smoke from land-clearing fires in Indonesia can blow across Singapore. In bad years the haze closes schools and spoils outdoor plans. Check the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) published by the NEA.

Hospitals such as Singapore General, Raffles and Mount Elizabeth are excellent, but a night in a private ward can cost thousands of Singapore dollars. Bring travel insurance. Ambulances are reached on 995.

Crime: scams, not muggings

The real crime problem in Singapore is fraud. The Singapore Police Force recorded 37,308 scam cases in 2025 and losses of S$913.1 million, down from S$1.11 billion in 2024. Most are fake-official calls, investment and job scams and online shopping fraud aimed at residents.

For visitors, the risks are smaller and more ordinary: an unattended bag at a hawker centre, a phone left on a café table, or a fake call claiming to be from Changi or the police. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary also reports a few cases of false molestation claims used for extortion. If a stranger accuses you and demands cash, call the police on 999 rather than paying.

Walking at night is not a worry in most of the city. Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and Haji Lane stay busy until late, and the main risk there is an overpriced drink. Geylang, the legal red-light district, sees more fights and illegal gambling, but even there robbery of passers-by is unusual.

The law is the bigger risk

Singapore's laws are strict and enforced, and visitors break them more often than they are victims of crime. The points that catch tourists out:

• Vapes are illegal. Bringing one in, even for personal use, means confiscation and a fine.
• Drugs carry extreme penalties. Possession above a threshold is treated as trafficking, which can carry the death penalty, including for passengers in transit at Changi.
• Public drinking is restricted. Drinking in public places other than licensed venues is banned between 10:30pm and 7am. Geylang and Little India are Liquor Control Zones where public drinking is banned all weekend and on public holidays.
• Smoking is limited to marked areas. Orchard Road is a no-smoking zone, as are parks and beaches.
• Protests need a permit, and foreigners may not attend outdoor demonstrations at all.

Fines for littering and jaywalking exist and are enforced. Vandalism can lead to caning.

How to stay safe in Singapore

• Wear repellent with DEET or picaridin during the day, especially near greenery and water.
• Check the PSI each morning in haze season and move runs indoors when it is above 100.
• Bin any vape before you board your flight.
• Hang up on calls claiming to be from the police, MOM or a bank. Real officials do not ask you to transfer money.
• Use Grab, licensed taxis or the MRT late at night. All are safe, and drivers rarely overcharge.
• If you are flying on to Thailand or Malaysia, expect much higher road risk the moment you leave Singapore.

How we scored it

Violent crime (99), road safety (93) and natural hazards (93) are the strongest factors. Health (88) is the weakest, because dengue and haze are real even with first-rate hospitals. Singapore sits just ahead of Japan, which has similar crime levels but far greater earthquake and typhoon exposure.