The capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, has emerged at the top among major South Asian cities in terms of crime rates, while its security system has been identified as critically fragile.

This alarming picture has been highlighted in the 2026 Crime and Safety Indices published by Numbeo, a global data and statistics organization.

According to Numbeo data, Dhaka’s crime index currently stands at 62.2, which is the highest compared to all other cities in South Asia.

Conversely, Dhaka ranks at the bottom in terms of safety, with a safety index of just 37.8. Statistics indicate that the law and order situations in major cities across Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal are better than that of Dhaka.

On the global list of crime-prone cities, Dhaka holds the 59th position. This means Dhaka is included in the top 15 percent of cities worldwide for crime and lack of safety.

Comparative Picture of South Asian Cities
Among other South Asian cities, Mangaluru in India (safety index 74.4) and Islamabad in Pakistan (safety index 68.6) hold strong positions as safe cities. Even Karachi and Lahore rank ahead of Dhaka on the safety index.

On the international stage, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates has maintained the top spot as the world's safest city, boasting a crime index of just 11.1 and a safety index of 88.9. In comparison, Dhaka’s condition is extremely precarious.

Numbeo’s index analysis states that residents of Dhaka suffer from severe insecurity when walking alone at night and live in constant fear of various crimes, including theft and mugging.

Numbeo regularly conducts surveys on living standards, housing, crime, healthcare, and traffic conditions in cities worldwide. The organization's 2026 index points to major concerns regarding Dhaka’s fragile law and order situation and the growing deficit in public safety.