Is the Bahamas Safe for Expats in 2026? Nassau Crime, Family Islands and Daily Reality
GUIDES · BAHAMAS
Key Facts
- —The short answer Mostly yes for foreigners who live carefully, but Nassau has real gun crime and the sea brings its own risks.
- —The numbers Police recorded 83 murders in 2025, down 31 percent from 120 in 2024.
- —Where risk sits Of those 83 killings, 76 were on New Providence, the island that holds Nassau.
- —The official view The US State Department rates the Bahamas Level 2, “exercise increased caution”, for crime.
- —The other risks Hurricanes from June to November, poorly regulated jet skis and scams aimed at newcomers.
- —The catch Armed robbery and domestic violence reports rose sharply in the first half of 2026, even as overall crime fell.
Is the Bahamas safe for expats? For most foreign residents, yes, but the answer depends on the island, the neighbourhood and how you treat the sea.
Is the Bahamas safe to live in? Crime is concentrated in parts of Nassau, falls sharply on the outer islands and is lower than in 2024. This guide sets out the numbers and daily reality as of September 2026.
The Bahamas is an English-speaking island nation of about 400,000 people, some 80 kilometres off Florida at its closest point. About three in four residents live on New Providence, the island that holds the capital, Nassau.
Figures below come from the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), the national police, and from US and UK government travel advice. Dollar amounts are US dollars; the Bahamian dollar is fixed one to one with the US dollar.
Is the Bahamas safe? What the police numbers say
The RBPF’s preliminary figures for 2025 show major crime down 15 percent, to 2,409 cases from 2,825 in 2024. Crimes against the person fell 27 percent and property crime 11 percent.
| Offence (whole country) | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 83 | 120 | −31% |
| Armed robbery | 162 | 265 | −39% |
| Rape | 50 | 61 | −18% |
| Housebreaking | 170 | 331 | −49% |
| Stolen vehicle | 398 | 392 | +2% |
For scale, 83 murders equal about 21 per 100,000 residents, using the 2022 census population. That is roughly one killing every four and a half days.
Police say retaliation, gangs and personal conflict were the most common known motives, at 43 percent combined. Firearms were used in 64 of the 83 killings, and 93 percent of victims were men.
That profile matters for foreigners. Young male victims, guns and retaliation point to disputes in specific districts, not random attacks on strangers.
What changed in 2026
Police mid-year figures for January to June 2026 show major crime down another 6 percent, to 1,153 cases. Murders fell to 38 from 44 in the same months of 2025.
Two numbers moved the other way. Armed robberies rose 25 percent, from 76 to 95, and most happened between 8pm and midnight.
Domestic-related reports rose 125 percent, to 825 from 367. A jump that size may partly reflect more people reporting, not only more abuse; the police figures alone cannot tell which.
The Rio Times examined that split in Bahamian Domestic Violence Reports Are Up More Than 125% While Overall Crime Falls.
Nassau: where the risk is concentrated
In 2025, 76 of the 83 murders happened on New Providence. With about 297,000 residents at the 2022 census, that is roughly 26 killings per 100,000 people.
The US State Department tells visitors to stay alert in Nassau’s “Over the Hill” area, south of Shirley Street. Gangs have killed residents there, it says. Police put 36 percent of 2025 murders in their South Central and Southern divisions.
The UK Foreign Office reports violent crime and armed robbery in residential and tourist areas of New Providence and Grand Bahama. Some attacks have been fatal. It advises against walking alone outside main tourist areas, especially after dark.
Neither government says Nassau is off limits. The advice is about habits: know the neighbourhood, avoid unlit streets, and do not resist a robbery, because robbers may be armed.
Property crime is the more likely brush for a foreign household. The US advisory warns about vacation rentals without private security, and the UK advises locking doors and windows in them.
Grand Bahama and the Family Islands
Outside New Providence the picture changes sharply. Police recorded just 4 murders in the Family Islands and 3 in the Grand Bahama district in 2025.
The Family Islands, also called the Out Islands, include Exuma, Eleuthera, Andros, Cat Island and Long Island. The UK Foreign Office says they have lower crime rates.
Together, the islands outside New Providence held about 101,000 people at the 2022 census. Seven killings among them works out to roughly 7 per 100,000, about a quarter of the Nassau rate.
Lower is not zero. The Family Islands recorded 49 housebreakings in 2025, 25 of them on Eleuthera, and gun violence does reach the outer islands.
In the first half of 2026, Grand Bahama recorded six murders and the Family Islands three. Small numbers on small islands can swing sharply from year to year.
The sea: jet skis, boats and sharks
For many visitors the most immediate physical danger is in the water, not on the street. The UK Foreign Office calls the water-sports industry poorly regulated, with unregistered operators and poor equipment.
In a security alert on 15 June 2026, the US Embassy in Nassau told Americans to avoid renting jet skis. It cited seven sexual assaults on US women by jet-ski operators reported since 2024.
The embassy also recorded six Americans hospitalised after jet-ski accidents since August 2024. In August 2025 an American on a jet ski was killed by an unlicensed operator in an unregistered boat.
US government employees are barred from renting jet skis from independent operators on New Providence and Paradise Island. The embassy says operators solicit rides downtown, on Paradise Island beaches and from Junkanoo Beach to Saunders Beach.
Sharks are a smaller but real risk. Fatal attacks can happen, especially at dusk or night, the UK Foreign Office says. It warns never to enter water baited to attract marine life.
Scams and fraud aimed at newcomers
The US State Department’s country page flags credit card fraud among its safety concerns for the Bahamas. People moving there should also watch for two other traps: rentals that do not exist and work papers sold by middlemen.
Work permits are issued only by the Bahamas Department of Immigration. Any agent offering to sell one is a warning sign.
For rentals, pay no deposit before you have seen the property or had it checked by someone you trust. Keep cards in sight when paying, and use bank ATMs rather than stand-alone machines.
Taxi fares depend on zones and can carry surcharges for extra passengers and luggage, the State Department says. Agree the price before you set off.
Hurricanes: the risk that does not show up in crime data
The hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, the UK Foreign Office says. Hurricanes and the floods they cause can be deadly, it adds.
Hurricane Dorian struck Abaco and Grand Bahama on 1 to 3 September 2019. The Inter-American Development Bank counted 67 confirmed deaths, 282 people still missing in October 2019, and US$3.4 billion in damage and other losses.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Long Island and San Salvador on 29 and 30 October 2025, the US National Hurricane Center says. The Bahamas Department of Meteorology kept hurricane warnings in force for the central and southeast islands, from Exuma to Inagua.
The US State Department warns that airports and seaports stop operating well before a storm arrives. Residents therefore plan their departure early rather than waiting for an evacuation order.
Before signing a lease or buying, ask how high the property sits above sea level and how it fared in past storms. Check exactly what your insurance covers for windstorm and flood.
Roads, healthcare and emergency numbers
Traffic drives on the left, but most cars are imported from the US and are left-hand drive, the UK Foreign Office notes. It warns that drink-driving laws are not always enforced, so night and rural driving carry extra risk.
A UK photocard licence is valid for three months. Residents staying longer need a Bahamian licence.
Serious cases needing hospital care or evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars, paid up front, the US State Department says. Medical evacuation cover is strongly advised; see Bahamas Healthcare: Public Cover Stops at Family Doctor.
In an emergency, dial 911 or 919 for police or ambulance. Save your embassy’s number too; the US Embassy in Nassau lists +1-242-461-5025.
What this means for you
If you move to Nassau, choose housing for security first. A gated building or private security, good lighting and a short drive home at night matter more than a sea view.
On a Family Island, violent crime matters less than distance from a hospital, storm exposure and break-ins at empty homes. Plan for all three.
Everywhere, treat the sea with respect, rent watercraft only from registered operators, and have a hurricane plan before June. For residency and costs, see Moving to the Bahamas: Residency, Costs and Island Life for Foreigners.
How expats stay informed
Safety in the Bahamas is partly an information habit. The islands’ expat communities run active WhatsApp and Facebook groups where break-in patterns, road closures, weather threats and scam sightings circulate within hours — joining the groups for your island or Nassau district in week one is the single most effective safety measure available. Neighborhood watch schemes operate in most gated and expat-heavy communities, the Royal Bahamas Police Force publishes crime statistics and advisories, and hotel security desks along Cable Beach and Paradise Island track incidents affecting guests. On the Family Islands, the informal network is the whole system: the mail boat schedule, the clinic nurse’s hours and who is on the island this week are all safety-relevant knowledge, and all of it travels by word of mouth. Plug in early.
Connected Coverage
Moving to the Bahamas: Residency, Costs and Island Life for Foreigners
The Bahamas Explained: The Islands, the Economy, the Politics and What to Watch
Bahamas Visa and Residency 2026 — Entry, Permits, Property and Tax
Bahamas Healthcare: Public Cover Stops at Family Doctor, Evacuation Costs Thousands
Cost of Living Nassau Bahamas 2026: Where the Bills Bite Hardest
Retire in the Bahamas: Annual Permit and Permanent Residence Rules
Buying Property in the Bahamas for Foreign Buyers in 2026
Bahamas Has No Income Tax, but a 10% Value-Added Tax Applies
Investing in the Bahamas as a Foreigner: Property, Funds and the Zero-Tax Frame
Bahamian Domestic Violence Reports Are Up More Than 125% While Overall Crime Falls
Sources: Crime data come from the Royal Bahamas Police Force and its mid-year report as published by The Tribune. Safety advice comes from the US State Department, the US Embassy in Nassau and the UK Foreign Office. Storm data come from the IDB, the Bahamas Department of Meteorology and the US National Hurricane Center.
- royalbahamaspolice.org
- tribune242.com
- tribune242.com
- travel.state.gov
- travel.state.gov
- bs.usembassy.gov
- gov.uk
- iadb.org
- getready.gov.bs
- nhc.noaa.gov
What Is Not Known
Whether the 125 percent rise in domestic-related reports reflects more abuse or more reporting is not established. Police have not published charge rates or repeat-victim data alongside the figure.
The full-year 2026 murder count is not known. The first-half figures are preliminary, and a single violent month can change the annual total.
How often foreign residents, as opposed to tourists or citizens, are victims is not published. The police reports break down victims by age and sex, but not by residence status.
Whether enforcement against unlicensed jet-ski operators will improve is not clear. The US Embassy’s June 2026 alert pointed to a lack of enforcement of existing safety rules.
The rest of the 2026 hurricane season cannot be forecast with confidence. The season runs until 30 November, and a single storm can change conditions on any island.
Company profiles: Emera (Bahamas) Limited · more in our LatAm Company Intelligence section.
More: Bahamas news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bahamas safe for expats to live in?
For most foreign residents, yes, with sensible habits. Police recorded 83 murders in 2025, down from 120 in 2024, and 76 of them were on New Providence. The US State Department rates the country Level 2, ‘exercise increased caution’.
Is Nassau more dangerous than the Family Islands?
Yes, by a wide margin. New Providence, home to Nassau, recorded about 26 murders per 100,000 people in 2025. The islands outside it recorded roughly 7 per 100,000, though break-ins still happen there.
Which areas of Nassau should I avoid?
The US State Department singles out the ‘Over the Hill’ area south of Shirley Street, where gangs have killed residents. The UK Foreign Office advises against walking alone outside tourist areas, especially after dark.
Are jet skis safe in the Bahamas?
The US Embassy in Nassau told Americans in June 2026 to avoid renting jet skis. It cited sexual assaults by operators, serious injuries and a 2025 death. US government staff may not rent them from independent operators on New Providence or Paradise Island.
When is hurricane season in the Bahamas?
Hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. Hurricane Dorian killed at least 67 people on Abaco and Grand Bahama in 2019. Hurricane Melissa crossed the southeast islands in October 2025.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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