Is Kota Kinabalu safe? Malaysia travel risk
Is Kota Kinabalu safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Kota Kinabalu scores 31/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates Malaysia Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions, updated 22 Feb 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (updated 19 Mar 2026); Canada says: exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories). No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Kota Kinabalu scores 31/100 (Moderate). The score combines security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards and current alerts measured for this location and Malaysia (how it is calculated). The sections below are specific to Kota Kinabalu: nearest emergency and transport facilities, local climate normals, 5-year natural hazard history within 100 km, frequently asked questions.
Driven by: security (33/100) and natural hazards (52/100).
A score of 31 is higher than the scores of 34% of the 241 countries we cover.
Consult the Malaysia travel risk page for nationwide security advisories, entry protocols, and consular warnings.
Geographic & Regional Coordinates
Found at 5.9800° N, 116.1100° E within Sabah, Kota Kinabalu is situated 1,627.6 km W of Kuala Lumpur at an altitude of 5 m.
Sabah
5.9800° N, 116.1100° E
5 m
Asia/Kuching
452,058
Emergency & Aviation Access
Nearby Towns & Settlements in Malaysia
Climate by Month
Hottest: May (30 °C avg high); Wettest: December (300 mm).
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 28° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 28° | 28° |
| Low °C | 24° | 23° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° |
| Rain mm | 227 | 140 | 209 | 196 | 252 | 273 | 238 | 224 | 276 | 299 | 289 | 300 |
Normals: Kota Kinabalu (0 km away).
Natural Hazard Calendar & History
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Earthquakes (M5.5+) | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Kota Kinabalu happened in May (3 of 6 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
Significant Earthquakes (USGS M5.5+ within 150 km)
2 major seismic events recorded within 150 km over the past 5 years.
- Largest: M7.1 on 22 Feb 2026 (99 km away) — USGS details
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Malaysia travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Malaysia entry requirements.
Evaluated Destinations in this Region
Questions travellers ask about Kota Kinabalu
Is Kota Kinabalu safe?
Kota Kinabalu currently scores 31/100 on our composite travel risk index (moderate risk; lower is safer). It already includes the current US State Department advisory for Malaysia (Level 1 of 4). Official advice can change quickly, so check it again shortly before you travel.
Sources: Travel Risk Calculator — Kota Kinabalu · Methodology
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