East Asia

Is Mongolia safe?

Capital: UlaanbaatarMongolian, RussianUpdated October 2026

L1Exercise normal precautions

Is Mongolia safe?

Low violent crime, but pickpocketing in Ulaanbaatar is common and drunk-related trouble happens at night. In the countryside, distance, weather and lack of roads are the real dangers.

Key facts

US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2026-07-28.
Homicide rate: 5.9 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
Road deaths: 21.0 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
Emergency numbers: Police 102 · Ambulance 103 · Fire 101.
Solo women: Mostly safe. Avoid walking alone late in Ulaanbaatar and drunk men; book UBCab rather than flagging private cars.

Risks, scams and laws

Main risks

Pickpockets in markets, buses and during Naadam
Remote areas with no signal, rough tracks and extreme weather
Fuel shortages disrupting flights and road trips

Common scams

Unlicensed private cars acting as taxis and overcharging

Laws visitors break by accident

Don't photograph police, police escorts or soldiers.
Border zones up to 100 km deep need a frontier guard permit.
Buying or exporting protected wildlife parts without a licence is a crime.

Safety by place in Mongolia

Place	Safety
Gobi Desert	4/5 · Safe with normal care
Terelj	4/5 · Safe with normal care
Lake Khuvsgul	4/5 · Safe with normal care
Ulaanbaatar	3/5 · Take real precautions

Quick answers

Is Mongolia safe for tourists?

Low violent crime, but pickpocketing in Ulaanbaatar is common and drunk-related trouble happens at night. In the countryside, distance, weather and lack of roads are the real dangers.

Is Mongolia safe for solo female travelers?

Mostly safe. Avoid walking alone late in Ulaanbaatar and drunk men; book UBCab rather than flagging private cars.

What is the emergency number in Mongolia?

Police 102 · Ambulance 103 · Fire 101.

Safety by place

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.