The most dangerous cities in the world

The most dangerous cities in the world

Photo: World Atlas

 

Before planning your next vacation, it may be worth doing some research into the cities you plan to visit – especially if the itinerary involves locales in Mexico and South America, where the top 10 most dangerous places in the world are located. According to a report by the Citizens’ Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice, these cities have documented the highest homicide rates per capita.

By World Atlas

Aug 9, 2021

Named the most dangerous city in the world with 138 murders per 100,000 residents (about seven killings per day), Tijuana is known for violent crime and poverty. Not long ago, it was a party spot for American college students during spring break, until its seedy underbelly of crime surfaced. Most of the violence comes from human trafficking and drug trades (largely crystal meth), each run by different gangs, as well as a rivalry between the Sinaloa (El Chapo) and Tijuana cartels.





The Most Dangerous Cities In The World

Rank City Country Homicides Homicide Rate (Per 100,000)
1 Tijuana México 2,640 138
2 Acapulco México 948 111
3 Caracas Venezuela 2,980 100
4 Ciudad Victoria México 314 86
5 Ciudad Juárez México 1,251 86
6 Irapuato México 473 81
7 Ciudad Guayana Venezuela 645 78
8 Natal Brazil 1,185 75
9 Fortaleza Brazil 2,724 69
10 Ciudad Bolívar Venezuela 264 69
11 Cape Town South Africa 2,868 66
12 Belém Brazil 1,627 65
13 Cancun México 547 64
14 Feira de Santana Brazil 386 63
15 St. Louis United States 187 61
16 Culiacán México 585 61
17 Barquisimeto Venezuela 683 57
18 Uruapan México 189 55
19 Kingston Jamaica 639 54
20 Obregón México 179 52
21 Maceió Brazil 521 51
22 Vitória da Conquista Brazil 172 51
23 Baltimore United States 309 51
24 San Salvador El Salvador 906 50
25 Aracaju Brazil 463 49
26 Coatzacoalcos Mexico 162 48
27 Palmira Colombia 149 48
28 Maturín Venezuela 257 47
29 Salvador Brazil 1,849 47
30 Macapá Brazil 233 47
31 Cali Colombia 1,209 47
32 Celaya México 240 47
33 San Pedro Sula Honduras 363 47
34 Ensenada México 253 47
35 Campos dos Goytacazes Brazil 233 46
36 Tepic México 230 45
37 Manaus Brazil 944 44
38 Recife Brazil 1,738 44
39 Distrito Central (Tegucigalpa) Honduras 538 43
40 San Juan United States 143 42
41 Valencia Venezuela 678 42
42 Reynosa México 295 41
43 Guatemala City Guatemala 1,411 44
44 João Pessoa Brazil 460 41
45 Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth) South Africa 478 39
46 Detroit United States 261 39
47 Durban South Africa 1,562 39
48 Teresina Brazil 324 38
49 Chihuahua México 352 38
50 New Orleans United States 145 37

Caracas, Venezuela – 100 Homicides/100K

In 2017, Caracas was named the most dangerous capital city in the world, and is still in the top three most crime-ridden cities on the planet with 100 murders in 100,000 people. Many residents of the city – and Venezuela in general – have been forced into a life of crime in order to support poor and often starving families.

Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela – 78 Homicides/100K

Violent crime and murder are a prevalent concern in Venezuela, and the city of Ciudad Guayana is no exception. Visitors are cautioned to exercise extreme caution when exploring the city because crimes like rape and murder are very common. In its population of one million people, the homicide rate is 78 in 100,000, largely due to economic hardships and organized gangs.

Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela – 69 Homicides/100K

Cuidad Bolívar gets a lot of press, but not a lot of positive exposure. In the city’s most poverty-stricken district – which has been referred to as one of the world’s biggest mega-slums – drugs, gangs, and violence run rampant. Crime flourishes in the city, located on the Orinoco River, with 69 homicides per 100,000 people. In 2018, that equated to 264 murders in its population of 382,095.

Read More: World Atlas – The most dangerous cities in the world

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