The morphological characteristics of a city have a direct relationship with the humanactivities happening in the public spaces. If, however, the public spaces become unsafe,people may avoid them. On the other hand, safe public spaces allow free movementfor everyone, which is the most basic human need and a crucial part of socialsustainability. By focusing on the present-day realities that create the link betweenthe implications for ownership and the provision of the public spaces, this researchaims to understand the nature of the morphological characteristics of cities in theGlobal North and South and its impact on and association with fear of crime. Two casestudy streets in Stockholm, Sweden, and Karachi, Pakistan, are selected to establisha hypothesis. The study draws upon comprehensive data through a questionnairesurvey and morphological analysis. The results suggest that the selected streetsin the Global North and South show a similar morphological structure in termsof street layout, land use, plot patt erns, and heights of the buildings but diff erencein pedestrian fl ows. In relation to the fear of crime, both streets show parks as riskyplaces to visit at night. The results also show some diff erences in terms of people’sresponses to the fear of crime in relation to the city’s morphology. For instance,people avoid vacant plots and petrol pumps in Karachi, while entrances to metrostations and hidden corners of buildings are considered risky places in Stockholm.