Full list of countries the U.S. government advises against travel to: Risk indicators
A closer look at the countries the U.S. State Department urges Americans to avoid — and the risks behind the warnings.
The U.S. government regularly issues travel advisories to help Americans understand which destinations are safe — and which ones carry serious risks. These alerts, published by the State Department, outline everything from routine travel precautions to warnings urging citizens to avoid certain countries altogether.
These advisories fall into four distinct levels. Each level reflects specific risk indicators, including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health concerns, natural disasters, wrongful detentions, kidnappings, and other threats that could endanger travelers.
The four levels of US travel advisories
A Level 1 advisory signals a generally safe environment where normal precautions are enough. Level 2 urges travelers to exercise increased caution. Level 3 recommends reconsidering travel plans. And Level 4 — the highest warning — tells Americans to avoid the country entirely due to life-threatening risks and limited ability of U.S. authorities to help in an emergency.
Below is the current list of Level 4 countries — the destinations the U.S. government considers the most dangerous for travelers right now.
Level 4: Countries the U.S. advises Americans to avoid
According to the latest U.S. State Department Travel Advisory Guide, these are the locations marked with a Level 4 alert:
- Afghanistan
- Belarus
- Burkina Faso
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Central African Republic
- Gaza
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mali
- Niger
- North Korea
- Russia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Yemen
A Level 4 designation means travelers face a high likelihood of encountering threats that could put their lives at risk. The U.S. government also notes that in these places, American citizens may not be able to receive assistance if an emergency occurs.
The State Department provides updated guidance for every country. You can review the full advisory list on its official STEP travel advisory page.
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