Sayuri T. Says:
I love the idea of Bali’s lifestyle, but as a single woman I worry about safety. How safe is Bali, really?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Sayuri,
In general, Bali is a safe destination—as long as you exercise proper caution, just like you would at home.
The little precautions you would normally take in your own country are what you need to continue to do while living in Bali, or anywhere for that matter.
When you’re at home, lock your doors, don’t walk alone at night in unlit areas, don’t flaunt your money, and ensure if you carry a bag or purse, you do so securely.
Having said that, let’s look at how Bali measures up to the U.S. in terms of safety.
In 2020, the latest year for which figures are available, the crime rate in the U.S. was 1,958.2 cases per 100,000 of the population. In Indonesia, it was 90 per 100,000.
In Bali itself, this number falls even lower to 72 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants. So that’s about a 0.072% chance of a crime happening to you.
It’s also important to note that most crime that does exist on Bali is non-violent petty crime. Violent crimes are very rare. Things like pickpocketing, purse snatching etc. are awful, but not dangerous in the way violent crimes can be.
Not to say you should fall into the trap of becoming complacent, just because you’re living in paradise.
At home, you wouldn’t choose to walk down dark streets alone late at night, why would it be any different here?
Use simple, common sense like that and you should have nothing to fear in Bali.
And, if you haven’t already, I recommend checking out Single and Ready to Move Overseas, our guide to fun, safe living for singletons around the world.
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