Is the Dominican Republic Safe? What the Numbers and a Local Say

"Is it safe?" is the first question almost everyone asks me when they hear I live in Cabarete, usually right after "is it always this sunny?" Both have the same honest answer: mostly yes, with things you need to know.

Here is what the official numbers say, what foreign governments tell their citizens, and what I've learned living on the North Coast.

The numbers

The Dominican Republic closed 2025 with 951 intentional homicides, a rate of 8.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the consolidated figure from the government's citizen security data center, CADSECI (Presidencia). The preliminary rate announced in January was 8.15, compared with 9.61 in 2024 (Diario Libre), and the cumulative rate for 2026 was 7.81 at the end of February (Policía Nacional).

The trend is down. But a national homicide rate doesn't describe the risks a visitor or a foreign resident actually runs into. The foreign advisories do that better.

What foreign governments say

Canada's page is the most detailed. The risks it lists:

• Petty theft: pickpocketing and bag snatching, including by thieves on motorbikes, at resorts, beaches, airports and bus stations.
• Robbery on roads: criminals target cars, especially after dark. Keep doors locked and windows up, even at traffic lights, and arrive and leave in daylight when you can.
• Card fraud: skimming and ATM fraud are common. Use ATMs inside banks or public places and cover the keypad.
• Drinks: never leave a drink unattended and don't accept drinks or snacks from new acquaintances.
• Drugs: zero tolerance, including cannabis.
• The sea: many beaches have limited or no lifeguards, and riptides cause several drownings every year.

What it looks like from the North Coast

I work every week with foreigners who've moved here. The problems I actually hear about match Canada's list almost exactly:

• Phones snatched from a motorbike while someone walks along the road looking at a map. Keep your phone in your pocket near traffic.
• Things taken from cars or from the beach while their owner is in the water. Bring only what you need, and don't leave bags in sight in the car.
• Break-ins at empty houses. This is the one that matters most if you buy. A property that sits empty for months without a manager or security is a target.
• Riding a motoconcho or a rented motorbike at night. Traffic is the bigger risk here than crime. Wear a helmet, and take a known taxi after dark.

Violent crime against foreigners exists, but it's rare in the day-to-day life of Cabarete, Sosúa or Puerto Plata. Most of the people I know have lived here for years without a serious incident, using the same habits they'd use in any city.

Where people choose to live

Safety is one of the main reasons foreigners on this coast choose gated communities and buildings with 24-hour security. They aren't the only safe option, but they solve the empty-house problem for people who travel. If you're comparing properties, ask:

• Is there 24-hour security, and is it a guard at a gate or patrols?
• Who looks after the property when you're away?
• What's the street like at night: lighting, neighbors, traffic?
• Has there been a break-in in the building or community recently? Neighbors will tell you more than the seller.

More on choosing an area in my guide to living in the Dominican Republic.

Numbers to save in your phone

• 911 for emergencies.
• CESTUR, the tourist police, in tourist areas: 1-809-200-3500.
• Your embassy or consulate. Canada, for example, has an honorary consul in Puerto Plata.

Source for the CESTUR number: the Government of Canada.

So, is it safe?

For a visitor who uses common sense, the Dominican Republic is safe enough that millions come every year and most of them never have a problem. For a resident, safety is mostly about choosing the right area and setting up the house well. The risks are real, specific and manageable, and the people who run into trouble are usually the ones nobody warned.

Figures from CADSECI, the Policía Nacional and the U.S. and Canadian governments as published by November 2, 2026. Advisories change; check your government's travel page before you travel.