25 Most Dangerous Cities In The World ([year])

In the Most dangerous cities in the world- Peace, tranquility, and calmness are missing in these cities, we have compiled the list of the most violent cities in the world, be careful if you find yourself in any of the listed cities.

The subject today is violence. Many of the most dangerous cities in the world are found in Latin America and here you will see that the two main problems are drugs and poverty.

This list does not take into account cities in countries at war, numbers of suicides, and other violent crimes. Here, what counts is the homicide rate over a year.

The Most Dangerous Cities In The World

Below is the full list of the most dangerous cities in the world, arranged from the lowest to the highest in terms of murders committed per 100,000 people.

25. Salvador – Brazil

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 51.58
  • Number of inhabitants: 4,015,205
  • Total murders: 2,071
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,939

Salvador made it on the list of the 25 most dangerous cities in the world. In recent years, the number of violent deaths has increased dramatically in Salvador (and across the state of Bahia). Poverty drives many inhabitants into the world of crime. Even so, the city remains a beautiful place, which attracts many tourists.

24. Guatemala City – Guatemala

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 53.49
  • Nº of inhabitants: 3,187,293
  • Total murders: 1,705
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,869

Despite being the country’s capital, Guatemala City has no means of combating the growing violence in the poorest areas, it seems the government isn’t doing enough to reduce the rate of killings in Guatemala city. Of note is the rate of violence against women and children in Guatemala, which is one of the highest in the world.

23. Maturín – Venezuela

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 54.43
  • Number of inhabitants: 600,722
  • Total murders: 327
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,837

Venezuela has suffered a lot in recent years with the economic and political crisis, this pitched the country in one of the most dangerous places to live and Maturín is one of the most violent cities in the world.

Reduced access to basic needs has increased violence and the number of murders. Until there is a resolution, there is a high tendency that this will worsen.

22. Recife – Brazil

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 54.96
  • Number of inhabitants: 3,965,699
  • Total murders: 2,180
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,819

The capital of the state of Pernambuco has seen an escalation in violence, with an emphasis on the war between drug traffickers. Despite police efforts, murders remain a problem in the city.

21. Baltimore – United States

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 55.48
  • Nº of inhabitants: 614,664
  • Total murders: 341
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,802

Baltimore is one of the top 10 most dangerous cities in the United States. Firearm violence in the United States is well known and Baltimore is one of the cities that suffers the most. Crime and violence are concentrated in the poorest areas of Baltimore, where drug gangs clash.

20. Ciudad Juárez – Mexico

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 56.16
  • Number of inhabitants: 1,448,859
  • Total murders: 814
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,780

Ciudad Juárez is on the border between Mexico and the United States, attracting many people who want to live the “American dream”. But it also attracts armed drug dealers. Homicides were decreasing but increased again recently.

19. Feira de Santana – Brazil

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 58.81
  • Nº of inhabitants: 627,477
  • Total murders: 369
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,700

Feira de Santana is another city in Bahia with a problem of violence. Despite being a city with many advantages and good universities, drug trafficking has greatly increased crime in Feira de Santana and has placed the most promising city on the list of most violent cities on earth.

18. Aracaju – Brazil

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 58.88
  • Number of inhabitants: 951,073
  • Total murders: 560
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,698

Violence in the capital of Sergipe has increased dramatically in recent years. Between robberies, organized crime, and homicides, security in Aracaju is no longer what it was. Even so, it continues to have one of the healthiest populations in Brazil.

17. San Salvador – El Salvador

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 59.06
  • Number of inhabitants: 1,789,588
  • Total murders: 1,057
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,693

In El Salvador, the danger comes from both sides: criminals and the armed forces. San Salvador is representative of the rest of the country, where the government’s aggressive policy against gangs has not lessened violence, we cant say that the government isn’t trying here but it seems the majority of the people in this city are determined not to change their ways.

16. Kingston – Jamaica

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 59.71
  • Nº of inhabitants: 1,180,771
  • Total murders: 705
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,675

Not everything is beautiful in the Caribbean! Despite being a very popular tourist destination, Jamaica also has a lot of violence. 

The most violent crimes mainly affect the Jamaican population, not tourists, but in Kingston, it is good to take precautions, you have to be very careful and mind your business here.

Read Also: The Most Wicked And Dangerous Tribe in Nigeria

15. Cape Town – South Africa

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 62.25
  • Nº of inhabitants: 4,004,793
  • Total murders: 2,493
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,606

In addition to being the oldest city in South Africa, Cape Town is also the most violent city in Africa (among countries that are not at war). It also has the dubious “honor” of being the most violent city outside the Americas.

14. Maceió – Brazil

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 63.94
  • Number of inhabitants: 1,029,129
  • Total murders: 658
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,564

The number of murders is still frightening in Maceió, but it has decreased. The capital of Alagoas reflects the tendency of the entire state to gradually reduce violence.

In this situation, it seems that the government is getting it right, and sooner or later Maceió will be exempted from the list of most violent cities in the world.

13. St. Louis – United States

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 65.83
  • Nº of inhabitants: 311.404
  • Total murders: 205
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,519

St. Louis, Missouri, is officially the city with the highest homicide rate in the United States. The violent crime rate is 6 times higher than the national average. For those who want to live the “American dream”, St. Louis is not the best option.

12. Culiacán – Mexico

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 70.10
  • Number of inhabitants: 957,613
  • Total murders: 671
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,427

In addition to being the home of almost a million Mexicans, Culiacán is the base of operations for the Sinaloa cartel, founded by El Chapo. 

The war between the government and drug traffickers affects many innocent people caught in the middle of the struggle.

11. Vitória da Conquista – Brazil

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 70.26
  • Nº of inhabitants: 348,718
  • Total murders: 245
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,423

Things are not going very well in Bahia. In Vitória da Conquista the number of murders has increased, following the trend of the rest of the region. But despite the violence, the city has a strong, growing economy.

10. Belém – Brazil

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 71.38
  • Nº of inhabitants: 2,441,761
  • Total murders: 1,743
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,401

The state of Pará also does not escape the wave of violence in northern Brazil. Belém has seen a very large increase in the number of violent deaths in recent years and there is no sign that it will decrease anytime soon …

9. Guayana City – Venezuela

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 80.28
  • Number of inhabitants: 906,879
  • Total murders: 728
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,246

Guayana was a designed city, built to be one of the best cities in the region. But that did not protect the city from the violence that plagues the entire country. In Venezuela, no city escapes political problems.

8. Victoria City – Mexico

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 83.32
  • Nº of inhabitants: 361,078
  • Total murders: 301
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,199

The outbreak of violence in recent years has greatly affected the population of City Victoria. In addition to homicides, the city has one of the highest kidnapping rates in Mexico. So, if you go there, be careful!

7. Fortaleza – Brazil

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 83.48
  • Number of inhabitants: 3,917,279
  • Total murders: 3,270
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,198

In Fortaleza, the biggest problem is drug trafficking, which generates deadly rivalries. Criminal groups have recently gone to war with the government, which has promised to act more strongly against crime, but presently there is no positive result in curbing crime rates in this region.

6. La Paz – Bolivia

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 84.79
  • Nº of inhabitants: 305,455
  • Total murders: 259
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 1,179

It is ironic but La Paz is a very violent city and it is in the Number 6 spot of the top ten most dangerous cities in the world. The capital of Bolivia is trying to modernize and attract many tourists, but the number of murders remains a great concern.

5. Tijuana – Mexico

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 100.77
  • Nº of inhabitants: 1,882,492
  • Total murders: 1,897
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 992

Located on the border between Mexico and the United States, Tijuana is a very popular tourist destination among Americans, because of its nightlife. But it is also a center of the struggle between cartels that dispute the drug market.

4. Natal – Brazil

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 102.56
  • Nº of inhabitants: 1,343,573
  • Total murders: 1,378
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 975

Natal is officially the most dangerous city in Brazil today. As in most places on this list of dangerous cities in the world, the main causes are social inequalities and drug trafficking, which leads to gang wars.

3. Acapulco – Mexico

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 106.63
  • Number of inhabitants: 853,646
  • Total murders: 910
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 938

The 3rd most dangerous city in the world is Acapulco. The war between the armed forces and drug cartels in Mexico has greatly affected the city of Acapulco.

The anti-drug war, coupled with increased poverty because of reduced tourism, causes a lot of violence in the city.

2. Caracas – Venezuela

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 111.19
  • Number of inhabitants: 3,046,104
  • Total murders: 3,387
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 899

Venezuela’s capital is also its capital of violence. Poverty, hunger, and revolt against Maduro’s repressive government are sources of much violence. And the tendency is for the danger to increase until the situation is resolved.

1. Los Cabos – Mexico

  • Murders per 100,000 population: 111.33
  • Number of inhabitants: 328,245
  • Total murders: 369
  • Probability of being murdered: 1 in 889

Welcome to the city with the highest homicide rate in the world, the most dangerous city in the world. Once again, the problem is the cartels. Even so, Los Cabos is becoming a very popular vacation destination with tourists.

Read Also: The Top 10 Most Peaceful Countries in The World.

Hope we have been able to expose you to the most dangerous cities in the world. This is for your safety so you should note those cities, they are the worst place for a non-citizen and even for natives of those places. When scouting for the best place to travel kindly make the right choice. If you like this post you can hit the share button.