Rwanda has recorded the highest level of perceived nighttime safety in sub-Saharan Africa, with 78% of adults saying they feel safe walking alone at night in their communities, according to Gallup’s latest Global Safety Report.
Rwanda’s figure was higher than those recorded in the United Kingdom, at 76%, France at 73% and the United States at 71%, according to the survey.
Gallup’s findings are based on interviews with more than 145,000 adults across 144 countries and territories. Respondents were asked whether they felt safe walking alone at night in the area where they live.
In East Africa, Tanzania recorded 68%, while Uganda stood at 48%. Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo each recorded 47%.
Globally, Singapore recorded the highest level of perceived nighttime safety at 98%, followed by Tajikistan at 95%, China at 94% and Saudi Arabia at 93%.
Rwanda’s result comes amid strong reported public confidence in the country’s security institutions. The Rwanda Governance Board reported in 2024 that 97.1% of respondents expressed trust in the Rwanda National Police, while 99% expressed trust in the Rwanda Defence Force.
The findings add to Rwanda’s strong performance in international measures of governance and security, although Gallup’s measure captures public perceptions of safety rather than crime rates or other direct measures of security.
The survey provides a snapshot of how residents in different countries perceive their personal safety, with Rwanda recording a markedly higher level of nighttime confidence than several of its regional neighbours.
