25 Countries the US Government Doesn't Want You to Go To

Civil unrest and the inconsistent presence of law enforcement make Nicaragua a dangerous destination for American travelers. According to the State Department, both official police and armed civilians have been targeting those perceived to be in opposition to President Daniel Ortega. The State Department also notes that pro-democracy protesters, members of the press, and human rights advocates have been detained by the government.

Pakistan remains a hotbed of terrorist activity. The State Department maintains a level 3 travel warning for the entire country, and a level 4 — do not travel warning — for the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which are each home to active terrorist groups. The government also warns that Azad Kashmir is a potential region for violence. In late 2019, tensions rose in the India-administered region of Kashmir, which borders Azad Kashmir.

Protests, road blockages, and tire burnings along major roadways in Haiti can cause unpredictable delays. In October, demonstrators staged a peaceful protest in the capital of Port-au-Prince to draw attention to corruption, inflation, and the shortage of fuel and goods, and demanded the resignation of President Jovenel Moise. Violent crime in the country is also relatively common, and the ability for police and emergency services to adequately respond to concerns is lacking. Tourists are frequently targeted for robbery in and around the capital’s airport.

Crime and political violence are relatively common in the Central African nation of Burundi — and according to the State Department, local police are often ill-equipped to effectively respond to such incidents. The U.S. government’s travel advisory adds that the country lacks adequate medical and fire emergency services. Because of travel restrictions on the U.S. embassy in Burundi, travelers should not expect emergency assistance in several of Burundi’s provinces.

The U.S. State Department advises Americans to reconsider travel to the Central American country of Honduras because of elevated levels of extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking. Those who travel to Honduras are advised to avoid demonstrations or walking at night, be cautious around ATMs or banks, and avoid displaying valuables.

Violent gang activity has been one of the causes of migration from Honduras to the United States. Honduras had been one of the most violent countries in the world, but homicide rates have been declining in recent years.

According to the U.S. State Department, violent crimes, including armed robbery, carjacking, and home invasions, happen relatively often in Sudan, particularly outside of the capital city of Khartoum.

Terrorist groups operating in the country pose a threat and may target Westerners through kidnappings, shootings, and suicide bombings. American officials in the country are required by the U.S. embassy to travel in armored vehicles when on official business.

In its advisory to Americans considering visiting Chad, the State Deparment warns of the risk of crime and terrorism. The State Department reported a surge in crimes in the African nation in 2018. Extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq can cross the border and target foreigners, security personnel, and other groups. The State Department also warns that Chad has unmarked minefields near the borders with Libya and Sudan.

Guinea-Bissau, a small coastal nation in West Africa, is potentially dangerous for American visitors largely due to a prevalence of violent crime. Crowded areas, particularly the airport and markets in major cities, can be hotbeds for aggressive panhandling and criminal activity, according to the State Department’s travel advisory.

The country has also struggled with governmental dysfunction and political unrest for decades, creating fertile ground for violence. The United States does not have an embassy in the country, and as a result, emergency services for American citizens are limited.

Lebanon, a country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea just north of Israel and bordering Syria to its east and north, is one of several Middle Eastern countries Americans are advised not to travel to. The perpetual threat of terrorism is the primary reason for Lebanon’s level 3 advisory. In January, anti-government demonstrations in the Lebanese capital of Beirut led to violent clashes with riot police, and close to 400 people were injured.

The threat of indiscriminate violent crime, including rape, robbery, and assault, is prevalent across much of Nigeria. Terrorism is also a persistent threat, particularly in the northeastern part of the country, where terror groups target shopping centers, hotels, schools, government installations, and other places where crowds tend to congregate. The State Department advises Americans who choose to travel in the country to remain vigilant, avoid large political gatherings, and not to resist in the event of a robbery. Several of the northeastern states of Nigeria have a level 4 advisory in place.

The landlocked West African country of Niger borders seven nations, and the State Department has asked Americans to reconsider traveling there because of crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. Terrorists are active in the bordering areas of Mali, Libya, Burkina Faso, and in the northern region of Niger. In the past, extremists based in Mali have crossed the border and attacked Niger’s security forces.

In May, Niger authorities said they thwarted a terrorist attack on a prison near the capital of Niamey. Niger, where the United States has a significant military presence, is perceived to be one of the more stable nations in the region. The U.S. is concerned that the Islamic State, all but removed from the Middle East, might shift its focus to the area of Africa that includes Niger.

The U.S. government has asked American citizens to reconsider traveling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo because of crime and civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk due to health concerns, including an outbreak of Ebola in the provinces of Nord Kivu and Ituri — which have a level 4 travel advisory.

The African nation is also reeling from a recent outbreak of measles. The World Health Organization said on Jan. 7 that more than 6,000 people had died as a result of the latest measles epidemic. WHO has called for more funding to vaccinate children under age 5.

Libya has become an unstable country since strongman Col. Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011. The U.S. government advises Americans not to travel to the North African nation, which is racked by crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict. Fighting among armed groups has occurred in the capital Tripoli, as well as the cities of Surman, Al-Jufra, Misrata, Ajdabiya, Benghazi, Sabha, and Dernah. A meeting of more than 12 nations in Berlin earlier in January tried to broker a cease-fire to the protracted civil war in Libya, without success. The combatants refused to engage in negotiations. Both warring sides agreed to send representatives to another meeting in Geneva.

The United States’ ability to provide services to American citizens in Libya is limited because the U.S. embassy in Tripoli suspended operations in July 2014.

Americans who travel to North Korea risk arbitrary arrest and long-term detention. The U.S. government does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea and is unable to provide emergency services within the country. Toward the end of last year, Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, had given the United States an ultimatum to find a new way to recast relations between the two nations by the end of 2019, but the U.S. was unsure what Kim meant or what kind of threat he was making.

Afghanistan is one 13 countries to receive a level 4 travel warning from the State Department due to ongoing military conflict. Kidnappings, hostage taking, and suicide bombings are all relatively common throughout the country. Terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan and often target restaurants, hotels, airports, and government buildings. The State Department advises American visitors to the country to draft a will prior to the start of their trip. Two U.S. paratroopers were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in early January, the first American military deaths in Afghanistan this year. 2019 was the deadliest year for the U.S. military in Afghanistan in five years, with 20 fatalities.

After the overthrow of the government in 1991, Somalia has descended into anarchy and has become a haven for terrorists and pirates. Human Rights Watch estimates that there are 2.6 million people who have been displaced within the nation. Kidnapping and murder occur often in the nation on the eastern coast of Africa. The United States’ ability to provide services to American citizens in Somalia is constrained because of the lack of a permanent envoy there. There is some optimism, however, as Somalia is hoping to hold its first election in 50 years in 2020.

Plagued with armed conflict and civil strife, Syria is one of the most dangerous countries in the world and one of only 13 with a level 4 travel warning from the State Department. The country has been in a civil war — which has involved aerial bombings and use of chemical weapons — since 2011. The United States closed its embassy in Damascus in early 2012. Although President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has survived the conflict so far, Islamic rebels command the northwestern part of the country and Kurdish forces supported by the U.S. control the northeastern section.

Travelers need to be wary of crime and kidnapping in Burkina Faso — and terrorism is a major concern there. The State Department advises Americans not to travel to regions surrounding the central part of the landlocked West African nation in particular. In January, 36 people were killed by militants in a market in the country’s Sanmatenga province in the northern part of the country. Violence in the African nation displaced more than 500,000 people in 2019.

To combat terrorism in Burkina Faso, the military launched counterterrorism operations in March and May of 2019, targeting the northern and eastern regions of the country.

South Sudan, one of the world’s newest nations, has been in turmoil since it was created in 2011. Americans are not advised to travel to South Sudan because of crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict. Extreme caution has been issued to U.S. government personnel in South Sudan’s capital of Juba. Americans who are government employees have to ride in armored vehicles to journey out of the city, and official movements outside the city are limited. There is some optimism in the war-torn nation, however. Leaders of rival factions, under international pressure, agreed to create a coalition government by the end of February.

Corruption is a problem in South Sudan as well. A report in September from the Sentry, an investigative arm of the nonprofit group Enough Project, said foreign elites and warlords have plundered resources from South Sudan, one of the world’s poorest nations.

Yemen is one of only 13 countries worldwide for which the State Department has a standing level 4 travel warning. This highest level of warning is due largely to the ongoing civil war in the country, which has destroyed essential infrastructure and jeopardized supplies of food, water, and medicine. The military coalition supported by Saudi Arabia recently launched attacks on Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, that is held by rebel forces. The attacks were in response to a rebel attack on a mosque in the city of Marib that killed 116 government troops in January 2020. As in other Middle Eastern countries on this list, terrorism is also a persistent threat in Yemen.

Turmoil continues to roil Venezuela — one of 13 countries with a level 4 warning. The South American nation is racked with crime and civil unrest. American citizens may be subject to arbitrary arrest and detention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also issued an avoid-nonessential-travel notice for Venezuela in May 2018 because of the breakdown of the medical infrastructure in that country. Since January 2019, President Nicolás Maduro has been locked in a power struggle with opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who failed to dislodge Maduro in an attempted overthrow in April. Since then, Maduro has cracked down on opponents. Human rights groups claim the regime has executed rivals, a charge the regime denies.

Kidnapping, civil disturbance, and violent crime such as armed robbery and carjackings are the main reasons why the State Department has issued a Level 4: Do not travel advisory for the Central African Republic. The U.S. government is limited in its ability to provide services and assistance for Americans in the landlocked country because the United States does not have a permanent envoy in the Central African Republic. Americans in the capital of Bangui must obtain special authorization to travel beyond the city.

Earlier this month, there were clashes between the country’s armed forces and Islamic groups that killed two government servicemen and destroyed part of the city of Alindao in the southern part of the country.

The State Department has issued a Level 4: Do not travel advisory for Mali, citing crime, terrorism, and kidnapping concerns. Human Rights Watch reported that the situation in the African nation worsened in 2019. Islamic groups connected with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are clashing with government security forces in the central and northern areas of the country. Human Rights Watch said 85,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in 2019 because of the violence.

Iranian authorities regularly detain and imprison Americans, particularly those with dual citizenship, under espionage charges. They often target students, journalists, and business travelers. The United States does not have diplomatic relations with Iran and cannot provide emergency services for Americans in the country. Ever since the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran in May 2018 and raised sanctions against the nation, tensions have mounted, leading to the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, on Jan. 3.

The State Department warns Americans not to travel to Iraq over concerns of terrorism, armed conflict, and kidnapping. Terrorist groups and militias continue to operate in Iraq, nearly 17 years after the United States invaded that nation. Terrorist groups and sectarian militias often target American citizens as well as Western companies. In May 2019, the State Department ordered non-emergency U.S. government personnel in Iraq to leave the country amid potential threats tied to rising tensions with Iran.

In December 2019, a Hezbollah militia group, which has links to Iran, attacked a military base and killed an American contractor. This prompted airstrikes by the U.S. in Iraq and Syria where that group was operating. In response, Iraqi backers of Hezbollah attacked the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and were driven off by U.S. military personnel. This led to the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force on Jan. 3, at Baghdad International Airport.