Despite being a “third-world” country, Thailand is easily one of the safest countries in the world. And that’s is true for locals and tourists alike.

Yet, safety remains a primary concern for many potential visitors. Understanding crime statistics and comparing them with other countries can provide a clearer picture of how safe Thailand truly is.

First, this article will delve into Thailand’s overall safety, comparing its crime rates with those in the USA and Europe. And, after that, we will give you a list of important safety tips for traveling in Thailand, including how to avoid crimes and scams.

How Safe is Thailand for Tourists?

No matter what metric you use to measure, Thailand is an extremely safe country for tourists. This is especially true when you compare it to Western countries such as USA, the UK, and France.

According to one global crime index, Thailand has less crime and better safety than Germany, Canada, USA, Ireland, Australia, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, and France.

Violent Crime In Thailand

The homicide rate in Thailand is approximately 2.4 per 100,000 people, which is lower than half of the world average of 5.9 per 100,000 people. For comparison, the homicide rate in the USA is around 6.3 per 100,000 in 2022. EU countries, on the other hand, have an extremely low homicide rate of 1.2 per 100,000.

Other violent crimes such as robberies are also substantially less in Thailand. For some perspective, Thailand had a robbery rate of 2 per 100,000 in 2016. The global average is 105 per 100,000.

Statistics on rape and sexual assault are hard to measure due to what each country qualifies as a sex crime or not. But from data we do have, Thailand had 2.83 rapes per 100,000 people in 2021. Sweden, France, Iceland, and the UK all had over 50 per 100,000.

Property Crime In Thailand

Property crimes, such as burglary and theft, are much less common in Thailand than in other countries outside Asia. In fact, Thailand’s theft rate was only 48 per 100,000 in 2016. This is significantly lower than many countries that are typically viewed as extremely safe, such as New Zealand, Denmark, and Sweden.

In Bangkok, the property crime rate is 42.13 per 100,000. For comparison, most major US cities have property crime rates north of 4,000 per 100,000 people.

Tourist Safety

Thailand’s economy is deeply dependent on tourism. For that reason, Thailand places a high priority on the safety of tourists. They even have tourist police and dedicated hotlines are available to assist visitors.

While crimes against tourists are very rare, occasional petty scams can happen–especially in tourist areas.

Common Scams to Avoid in Thailand

The top scams to watch out for include:

• Taxi price gouging: Make sure the taxi driver agrees to use the meter.
• Tuk tuk “tours”: Only do tours after agreeing to a price and the destinations.
• Red light district scams: Seedy bars in red light districts are notorious for engaging in funny business with the bill.
• Given wrong change: Always double-check the money you get back after paying.
• Farang price: It’s common knowledge that farangs (foreigners) get charged more in tourist areas.
• Damage to scooters: Always take photos of the motorbike you rent so the shop can’t claim damage you didn’t actually do.

How to Stay Safe Traveling in Thailand

Thailand is a very safe country. That means that if you follow common-sense safety tips you should have no problems.

Here are the main safety precautions to be aware of as a tourist in Thailand:

• Trust your gut: If something feels off, it probably is. Exit the situation.
• Don’t be too trusting: In tourist areas, keep a small guard up. It’s not unusual for people in touts in these areas to see you as a walking dollar sign.
• Negotiate prices beforehand: Don’t engage in any non-formal activity without agreeing on the price beforehand. This includes taking taxis, going on tours, or renting a jet-ski or motorbike.
• Haggle for better prices: When buying souvenirs or items at a market, it’s normal to try to bargain for a better deal, especially considering the seller is probably making you pay tourist prices.
• Stay away from drugs: Outside of weed and alcohol, drugs are taken very seriously in Thailand. So it’s best to avoid them or you might be paying a fat bribe to the Thai police–or spend some time in the Bangkok Hilton.
• Be careful in Red Light Districts: Seedy places attract seedy people. So exercise extra caution if you go to places like go-go bars, brothels, party streets, or Ping Pong shows. However, it’s still relatively safe.
• Memorize emergency numbers: Take note of the numbers used to report emergencies in Thailand in case you get in a messy situation.
• Don’t take unnecessary risks: Thailand is an epic place and sometimes that energy makes people do reckless things. Wear a helmet on motorbikes, use protection in bed, and don’t get drunk and do anything too crazy.

Is Female Solo Travel Safe in Thailand?

Short answer: yes! Traveling alone as a female can be scary but Thailand is an incredible place to visit with or without friends. Thanks to a very strong backpacker scene and very friendly locals, it is highly unlikely that you’ll spend too much time alone or that anything bad will happen.

But, as always, it is best to take extra precautions as a solo female traveler. Keep in touch with family and friends back home so they always have an idea of where you are and how you are doing.

Long Story Short, Thailand is Very Safe

With very few exceptions, Thailand is probably just as safe or more so than the country you currently live in. That’s because there is almost no crime aimed at tourists–the country’s cash cow.

So, with that said, book your flight to Thailand with confidence that only good memories will come of it!

Related: 15 Essential Thai Words to Know Before Your Next Thailand Adventure