Dhaka Ranked South Asia’s Most Unsafe City, Tops Regional Crime Index: Numbeo

Dhaka has been ranked as the most crime-prone major city in South Asia, while also recording the region’s lowest safety position among the cities assessed, according to Numbeo’s 2026 mid-year Crime and Safety Index.

The online data platform’s latest assessment gave Bangladesh’s capital a crime index score of 62.2 and a safety index score of 37.8. Based on these figures, Dhaka ranked ahead of other major South Asian cities in terms of reported crime levels.

Numbeo’s Crime Index and Safety Index are based on user-contributed data and perceptions relating to crime and safety in cities around the world. The figures are intended to provide a comparative view of how residents and visitors perceive security conditions in different urban areas.


The latest ranking places Dhaka in a relatively weak position compared with several major cities across South Asia. According to the data, cities in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka recorded comparatively better crime and safety scores than Dhaka.

Globally, Dhaka ranked 59th in the assessment based on crime and safety indicators. This means the capital falls within roughly the top 15 percent of major cities globally in terms of crime levels represented by the index.


The findings highlight the security challenges faced by one of South Asia’s most densely populated metropolitan areas. Dhaka has experienced rapid population growth and urban expansion over the years, putting significant pressure on transportation, public services and other urban infrastructure.


The city’s large population and heavy daily movement also create challenges for maintaining public safety across its extensive urban area. Crime concerns can vary considerably between neighbourhoods, and perception-based indexes do not necessarily represent the official crime statistics recorded by law enforcement agencies.


At the other end of the global ranking, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates was identified as the world’s safest city in Numbeo’s assessment. The city recorded a crime index of just 11.1 and a safety index of 88.9.

The substantial gap between Abu Dhabi and Dhaka illustrates the wide variation in perceived safety levels among major cities worldwide. While Dhaka's safety score stood at 37.8, Abu Dhabi's score was more than twice as high.


The Numbeo assessment also indicates that Dhaka's position is relatively weaker than several cities in neighbouring South Asian countries. The data suggests that major urban centres in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka have lower crime scores or higher safety scores than Bangladesh’s capital.


However, the index should be interpreted as an indicator of public perception rather than a definitive measurement of criminal activity. Numbeo relies heavily on user-submitted information, and its rankings can therefore differ from official government crime statistics, police records and other institutional assessments.

Despite these limitations, such international comparisons can draw attention to public concerns about security and urban safety. A high crime index may influence perceptions among residents, tourists, businesses and potential investors when comparing different cities.

For Dhaka, the ranking comes amid continuing efforts to address urban crime, improve law enforcement and strengthen public safety. Authorities face the challenge of maintaining security in a rapidly expanding metropolitan region with millions of residents and a large number of daily commuters.

The latest Numbeo figures therefore place renewed focus on the need for effective policing, improved urban management and stronger community-based safety measures. At the same time, experts and policymakers would need to examine official crime data alongside perception-based international rankings to develop a more complete understanding of Dhaka’s security situation.


The 2026 mid-year index ultimately presents Dhaka as one of the more crime-prone major cities globally and the highest-ranked city for crime among the South Asian cities covered by the assessment.