Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Belize is increasingly appealing to retirees, remote workers, and families seeking sunshine, a coral reef, and a relaxed pace of life. But beyond the turquoise waters and tropical climate lies a central question for any expatriation project: day-to-day safety.
Belize presents a contrasting security context, with high crime rates but also very safe areas. A serene expatriate life is possible provided you carefully select your place of residence, thoroughly understand the local environment, and adopt appropriate behaviors to compensate for limited institutional resilience.
This article provides a factual and practical overview of safety in Belize to help you prepare for a long-term relocation, without naivety but also without alarmism.
Understanding Belize’s Security Landscape
The first point to understand is that Belize is a country of contrasts. The national crime statistics are high, but the risk is not uniform across the territory. The vast majority of serious crimes are concentrated in a few specific urban areas, rarely frequented by expatriates.
Official data shows that in 2024, the country recorded 98 homicides, compared to 94 the previous year, an increase of approximately 4%. The homicide rate rose from 21.5 to 23 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. This places Belize in the upper tier of the world’s most violent countries in terms of murders per capita.
Number of major crimes recorded in the first half of 2025, a decrease of approximately 9% compared to the same period in 2024.
These figures might suggest the situation is improving. In reality, the picture is more nuanced. The Belize Crime Observatory shows that some indicators are progressing, but others are deteriorating: for example, firearm-related murders accounted for nearly 87% of homicides in the first half of 2024, and more than half of these homicides occurred in the Belize District, which includes the economic capital Belize City.
Another useful indicator is provided by the Global Organized Crime Index. Belize receives a crime score of 4.97 out of 10 (103rd out of 193 countries), with a 5.40 score for criminal actors (significant presence of gangs, networks, foreign cartels) and a resilience score of only 3.58, placing it low in the ranking for the state’s ability to effectively respond to these threats.
Where is crime concentrated?
District-level statistics provide a clearer picture of the most sensitive areas. In 2022, the Belize District recorded about 471 crimes, far ahead of the Cayo (190) or Stann Creek (165) districts. In most reports, about 90% of serious crimes occur in sectors rarely visited by tourists or expatriates.
The “Southside” of Belize City, south of Haulover Creek, is historically marked by gangs, drug trafficking, and turf wars. U.S. authorities classify the city at Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) and recommend avoiding this area, unlike the rest of the country classified at Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”).
Conversely, the main tourist destinations and expatriate areas like San Pedro (Ambergris Caye), Caye Caulker, Placencia, Corozal, or the Cayo District experience mainly petty crime (theft, opportunistic burglaries, scams), but with much lower levels of violence.
To visualize the order of magnitude, the table below summarizes some key indicators.
| Indicator (entire country unless specified) | Approximate Value | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Murders 2023 | 94 | National total |
| Murders 2024 | 98 | +4% from 2023 |
| Homicide Rate 2023 | 21.5 / 100,000 pop. | Very high on a global scale |
| Homicide Rate 2024 | 23 / 100,000 pop. | Slight increase |
| Share of homicides in Belize District (1st half 2024) | > 50% | High concentration |
| Share of homicides committed by firearm (1st half 2024) | 87% | High circulation of illegal weapons |
| Major Crimes 1st half 2024 | 536 | All types of “major crimes” |
| Major Crimes 1st half 2025 | 489 | -9% from 2024 |
| Overall Crime Score (Global Organized Crime Index) | 4.97 / 10 | 103rd/193 countries |
| Resilience Score against organized crime | 3.58 / 10 | 147th/193 countries |
| Crime rank in the Americas (35 countries) | 23rd | 8th/8 in Central America |
For a future expatriate, the conclusion is simple: safety in Belize is not an abstract national statistic; it’s a hyper-localized reality. Living in San Pedro, Placencia, or San Ignacio has nothing to do with living in Southside Belize City.
Gangs, Organized Crime, and Corruption: What You Need to Know
Belize is not only dealing with street-level crime. It’s also a link in the major routes of regional organized crime, which weighs on the overall environment.
There are more than 40 street gangs in the country, mainly in Belize City. Modeled on American groups like the Bloods and Crips, these gangs (900 to 1,400 members total by estimates) manage part of the micro-drug trade, extortion, and territorial disputes. Their structure is decentralized, alliances are fluid, and internal conflicts are frequent, especially in the Southside.
Belize is a significant transit country for South American cocaine destined for the United States via Mexico. The Sinaloa Cartel has historically been present there. Trafficking occurs via clandestine aircraft landings, particularly in the north of the country, and via coastal maritime routes. The country also serves as a transit point for heroin, although this market is less developed there.
Trafficking is not limited to narcotics: weapons, contraband cigarettes, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, illicit alcohol, wildlife, precious woods, illegally mined gold… The Corozal Free Zone is cited as a major hub for smuggling, and corrupt public officials have been implicated in flows of weapons or tobacco.
In the context of organized crime assessment, Belize has been assigned specific scores for different sectors. These sectoral scores, measured by the Organized Crime Index, allow for analysis of the infiltration and impact of criminal activities in various branches of the country’s economy and society.
| Criminal Market (score /10) | Score | Quick Take |
|---|---|---|
| Human Trafficking | 5.5 | Significant problem, especially sexual & labor exploitation |
| Migrant Smuggling | 6.5 | Important transit country |
| Weapons Trafficking | 5.0 | Numerous illegal flows, weapons involved in most homicides |
| Crimes against Wildlife | 6.0 | Trafficking of jaguars, exotic birds, etc. |
| Cocaine Trade | 5.5 | Major regional transit |
| Cannabis Trade | 5.0 | Persistent activity despite the legal framework |
| Financial Crimes | 5.0 | Money laundering, real estate fraud, tax evasion |
Financial crime deserves special mention for expatriates: Belize has long had a reputation as a tax haven, with an offshore banking sector and shell companies used to conceal capital. Scandals like “Sanctuary Belize” have shown the scale of some real estate scams specifically targeting foreigners. The involvement of private actors, local intermediaries, and sometimes political figures increases the risk for those considering land purchases or investments.
Institutions Under Strain but Evolving
To assess long-term safety, it’s not enough to analyze crime: one must also evaluate the state’s response. On this point, the signals are mixed.
On one hand, law enforcement lacks resources. The Belize Police Department (BPD) suffers from a deficit in vehicles, radios, equipment, and officers have limited training for complex investigations. Conviction rates are low, procedures are lengthy, and many crimes go unpunished. The perception of corruption in the police, judiciary, and political sphere is high, and cases of abuse (arbitrary detention, excessive use of force) are regularly noted by the press and NGOs.
Structural initiatives implemented by Belize to strengthen transparency, the rule of law, and national security.
Creation of a dedicated unit to strengthen transparency and integrity in public administration.
Amendments aimed at preventing access to public office for persons convicted of crimes.
Establishment of a ‘Senior Courts’ structure to modernize and strengthen the judicial apparatus.
National strategic plan covering 2022‑2027 to guide actions in security and defense.
Operational roadmap for the Belize Crime Observatory, aiming to combat crime through data.
On the ground, concrete efforts are visible. In 2024, facing a surge in gang-related assassinations, the government declared several states of emergency in certain areas of Belize City and the Cayo District, giving police expanded powers of search and arrest without a warrant. These measures helped lower some indicators—homicides, for example, decreased between the first and second quarters of 2025—but they have been criticized for the excesses they generated (allegations of brutality, forceful searches, prolonged detention of dozens of people awaiting trial).
also relies on international partnerships: police training and border security support from the United States and United Kingdom, participation in Interpol, cooperation with CARICOM, the Organization of American States, or the International Organization for Migration on human trafficking and cybersecurity.
Belize
In summary, the state apparatus has limited resources and still weak resilience (score of 3.58 out of 10 in the international index), but it is not inert. For an expatriate, this means not relying solely on the police for one’s safety, but also on one’s own prevention and integration into a reliable local network.
Where to Live in Belize to Minimize Risks?
Location is arguably the most decisive choice for your day-to-day safety. In practice, most expatriates concentrate in a few areas considered significantly safer than the economic capital.
San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, is often presented as a “haven” for foreign residents. Local police report a crime rate lower than on the mainland, with mostly opportunistic thefts and a few isolated incidents. Maritime patrols have been reinforced to combat boat theft, and authorities encourage homeowners to install surveillance systems and GPS trackers.
Placencia, Caye Caulker, Corozal, and San Ignacio (in the Cayo District) are also popular choices. These localities combine a tourist base, a strong expatriate presence, relative community cohesion, and criminal activity mainly limited to petty crime. Families particularly appreciate the Cayo District for its rural and eco-tourism ambiance, and Corozal for its proximity to Chetumal in Mexico, where there are good private hospitals.
Belmopan, the administrative capital, is considered by several assessments as a high-risk zone for official interests (U.S. Embassy, etc.), but in daily life, its violent crime rate remains lower than Belize City’s. Reports there are more of thefts, burglaries, and vehicle break-ins.
The city, particularly the Southside neighborhood, concentrates the majority of shootings and turf wars. Authorities recommend avoiding walking there without a valid reason, especially at night. For many expatriates, it is only an administrative and transit point, not a place of residence.
Remote border areas with Guatemala, particularly around the Chiquibul forest or the Caracol Mayan site, also experience illegal activities (poaching, logging, illegal mining, smuggling). These are not typical expatriation spots, but strict precautions are recommended for any excursion (licensed guide, group, daytime hours, avoiding isolated routes).
Daily Life: Guarding Against Petty and Medium-Level Crime
For an expatriate settled in a relatively safe area, the main threat is not kidnapping or a shooting—these cases remain rare, and kidnappings targeting foreigners are exceptional—but rather thefts, burglaries, and various scams.
The basic advice is that of any moderate to high-risk country, but in Belize it is not optional:
To ensure your safety, it is crucial to adopt several habits: avoid displaying valuables, always lock your home’s access points, choose a well-secured residence, avoid walking alone at night, never leave valuables in a vehicle, stay vigilant in bars, and use ATMs in safe locations.
Bank card fraud, card cloning, and ATM scams are sufficiently widespread to justify limiting withdrawals to trusted ATMs and preferring, when possible, secure payments or cash in small shops.
Real estate fraud (land, falsified titles, ‘great deals’) is common, especially targeting foreigners. It is imperative to: engage an independent local lawyer, verify the title history at the land registry (undergoing digitization), and be wary of pressure to sign quickly or wire transfers to obscure offshore accounts.
Health, Hospitals, and Medical Safety
A serene expatriation in Belize also involves managing health risks. On this point, the country offers a combination of acceptable basic services and significant structural limitations.
The healthcare system is mixed, overseen by the Ministry of Health: public hospitals, local clinics, and a growing private sector in major cities. There are eight major public hospitals and about sixty clinics. Public facilities are often under-resourced: lack of specialists, equipment shortages, wait times. Belize City concentrates the best offerings, notably the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, the national referral hospital, and several private facilities (Belize Medical Associates, Belize Healthcare Partners, Buttonwood Bay, etc.).
Outside Belize City, the country has regional hospitals in districts like Orange Walk, Cayo (e.g., La Loma Luz), Corozal, and in the south. On the islands, common emergencies are handled by polyclinics and private clinics. A new public hospital is under construction to serve San Pedro and Caye Caulker.
For complex care (cancer, cardiac surgery, neurology, major trauma), it is common to be evacuated to Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, or the United States. The absence of a Level I trauma center and the weakness of the ambulance system make insurance coverage with medical evacuation absolutely essential.
Health authorities and embassies clearly recommend that expatriates: ensure their safety and health by staying informed of local conditions and taking necessary precautions.
Before your trip, obtain international health insurance covering private care and evacuation (minimum recommended: 50,000 USD for medical expenses and 100,000 USD for evacuation). Bring your prescription medications in sufficient quantity, in their original packaging, with the prescription, and verify import rules with Belize Customs. Recommended vaccines are for hepatitis A and B, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, typhoid, as well as basic vaccine boosters (MMR, seasonal flu, Covid-19). The rabies vaccine may be advised depending on your exposure.
Belize has been declared malaria-free by the WHO, but mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya, or the Zika virus remain present. The use of repellent, covering clothing, and mosquito nets is strongly advised.
Another often underestimated point: the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning in poorly ventilated accommodations, where detectors are not systematically installed. Foreigner deaths have already been reported. Increasingly, travelers and expatriates choose to bring a portable detector.
Finally, tap water is not always potable, even in large cities. Many residents drink filtered or bottled water, which drastically reduces the risk of diarrhea and intestinal infections.
Transportation, Roads, and Travel Safety
Belize’s road network remains limited: out of over 3,200 km of roads, only about 600 km are paved. The main highways (Northern, Western, Hummingbird, and Southern Highway) are generally in good condition, but secondary roads are often gravel or dirt, badly degraded in the rainy season.
The dangers are numerous: potholes, unmarked speed bumps, stray animals, cyclists without lights, vehicles without lights, reckless drivers, drunk driving. Traffic accidents are among the leading causes of death in the country. Towing and ambulance services are scarce outside towns, public phones are almost nonexistent, and the mobile network is unreliable in rural areas.
For safe driving abroad, adopt these basic rules: avoid driving at night, keep a good spare tire with tools, drive cautiously, regularly check brakes and lighting, and prefer stops in populated areas in case of trouble. For urban or nighttime travel, prefer official taxis, identifiable by their green license plates.
The following table summarizes some characteristics of the transportation system and the implications for safety.
| Transportation Aspect in Belize | Observed Reality | Consequence for an Expatriate |
|---|---|---|
| Main Roads | 4 main paved highways, decent condition | Intercity travel feasible during the day |
| Secondary Roads | Numerous tracks, mud or dust, sometimes impassable | Need for a 4×4 or to avoid certain routes |
| Night Driving | Limited lighting, animals, unlit vehicles | Avoid as much as possible |
| Public Transport (Buses) | Second-hand buses, often school buses, few amenities | Budget option but uncomfortable and less safe |
| Taxis | Green plates, no meter | Negotiate fare before, prefer known drivers |
| Boats / Water Taxis | Main mode to the islands, varied operators | Choose reputable companies, check for life jackets |
| Roadside Emergency Services | Very limited outside towns | Plan ahead: map, fuel, spare tire, phone |
For trips between the mainland and the islands (Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, etc.), water shuttles and small planes are standard. Again, it’s best to stick with known operators, check for life jackets, and follow instructions in case of rough seas.
Specific Groups: Women, Families, LGBTQ+ Persons, Persons with Disabilities
The perception and reality of safety also vary by profile.
Women, especially those living or traveling alone, report cases of verbal harassment, unwelcome attention, and, more rarely, sexual assault. As elsewhere, standard precautions are necessary: limit solo nighttime travel, prefer recommended taxis, stay vigilant in bars, avoid accepting drinks from strangers, rely on networks of friends or neighbors.
Belize has a progressive legal framework where same-sex relations are legal. However, society remains largely conservative. Violence and discrimination are reported, and obstacles sometimes exist for filing complaints. Tourist areas like San Pedro are more tolerant, but public displays of affection outside these spaces are discouraged.
Persons with disabilities face a near-total lack of mandatory accessibility. Ramps, elevators, adapted transport… are not the norm, neither in public buildings nor in buses. Infrastructure is often basic, and long-term expatriation with a severe motor disability requires thorough preparation and financial means to organize private adaptations.
For expatriate families, children’s safety depends on choosing a safe community and applying basic advice. Regarding health, it is crucial to anticipate managing pediatric emergencies, as serious cases often require medical evacuation to Mexico or the home country.
Emergency Numbers, Police, and Assistance
Even with the best prevention, it is essential to know the channels for alerting authorities and for assistance.
The single emergency number in Belize is 911, for police, fire, and ambulance. The call center is managed by the police, who can redirect to other services. To anonymously report a crime, the organization Crime Stoppers Belize provides 0‑800‑TIPS (0‑800‑922‑8477), with calls routed to the United States to guarantee anonymity.
Two national telephone helplines are dedicated to protecting vulnerable persons in Belize.
The Belize Police Department, based in Belmopan, follows an announced policy of “community policing” to strengthen cooperation with residents, but expatriates sometimes report difficulties obtaining written reports or follow-up on investigations. It is recommended to always present yourself with a passport or copy, and to immediately note the case number.
Foreign embassies and consulates (U.S. in Belmopan, Canadians via the regional embassy in Guatemala and an honorary consul in Belize City, British via the High Commission in Jamaica) can provide consular assistance: contact information for doctors, help in case of assault, referral to lawyers. However, they cannot investigate or directly intervene in criminal matters.
Natural Disasters and Local Resilience
In addition to the criminal dimension is the natural risk. The country is exposed to Atlantic hurricanes between June and November, with a peak between August and October. Seasonal flooding in the rainy season and bushfires in the dry season (December to May, especially in Cayo and the south) complete this picture.
NEMO coordinates the response, but expatriates must build up supplies (water, food, first-aid kit), digitize their documents, plan for a backup power source, and establish a family evacuation plan.
The basic rule in case of a major threat, summarized by authorities, is “Go in, Stay in, Tune in”: take shelter, stay there, and follow information from the authorities. Pets are generally not allowed in shelters, which requires planning for specific solutions.
Strategic Advice for a Serene Expatriation
At the end of this overview, several key points emerge for anyone wishing to relocate to Belize with a reasonable level of risk.
First, location choice: prioritize areas where the combination of safety / services / expatriate community is most favorable, such as Ambergris Caye, Placencia, Corozal, or San Ignacio. Automatically avoid Belize City, and especially its Southside, as a place of residence.
Next, approach security as an investment, not as an imposed constraint: a well-secured home, international health insurance with evacuation coverage, possibly home and liability insurance, a robust rather than flashy vehicle, basic hurricane equipment.
To live better abroad, it is essential to build relationships with neighbors and participate in neighborhood association life. It is also necessary to follow local news, particularly to be alerted to any states of emergency. Enroll in your country’s citizen registration programs (like the STEP program for Americans) and keep all useful numbers at hand (police, hospital, embassy) are indispensable precautions.
Belize will never be a “completely secure little paradise.” It is a real country, with its tensions, its institutional fragilities, and its pockets of violence, but also with a strong capacity for welcome, a relatively open society, and expatriate communities who have lived there peacefully for years. For those who accept this compromise and take the means to manage the risk, a serene expatriation remains entirely feasible.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. We encourage you to consult qualified experts before making any investment, real estate, or expatriation decisions. Although we strive to maintain up-to-date and accurate information, we do not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the proposed content. As investment and expatriation involve risks, we disclaim any liability for potential losses or damages arising from the use of this site. Your use of this site confirms your acceptance of these terms and your understanding of the associated risks.
Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
