10 Most Dangerous Cities in The World

Colombia’s most dangerous city, Palmira is a city of around 300,000 people that plays a significant role in the country’s drug trafficking industry. The country of Colombia has generally experienced quite a bit of instability and strife over the past decade. They have been ravaged by cartels, civil wars, and corrupt government operations. One of the prominent problems in this country is cocaine trafficking and gang-related violence.

These factors have all reached a head in Palmira, one of the most dangerous cities in the world. The city experiences an average of 48 homicides per 100,000 people. In 2018, the murder toll reached a total of 149. Luckily, the amount of murders in Palmira is decreasing over the years, as well as the number of murders in the entire country. In 2013, six of Colombia’s cities were in the top 50 most dangerous of the world- now there are only two.

Most researchers agree that the violence in Colombia comes from an ongoing tension between drug cartels and military groups. The struggle to control the drug trade and the desirable Pacific coast drug routes creates much of this dangerous tension. They often claim power and get back at each other through murder and kidnapping, and this has created a high murder rate as well as a high kidnapping rate. The region that Palmira is a part of is largely controlled by criminal and neo-military groups, with the danger and violence tend to be centered in Palmira and the city of Cali.

Another city deeply affected by a past civil war, San Salvador has developed a violent and prevalent gang culture in recent years. Although the civil war ended 30 years ago, the city of San Salvador has retained its status as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. The average murder statistics for San Salvador reaches about 50 homicides per 100,000 people. 906 murders took place in this city in 2018.

Two of the most notorious gangs, Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18, are thought to be responsible for a lot of this. The country has a thriving drug trade, especially with the United States. As a result, most of these murders are from gang-on-gang attacks. It’s estimated that about 94% of the El Salvador as a whole is controlled by such gangs. Another prominent source of homicide is the Sombra Negra and other similar death squads. These groups target specific figures, such as notorious gang members, and execute them outside the law. Many researchers note the connection between El Salvador and the United States. There is a lot of tension in regards to US immigration policy and the drug trade that goes on between the two countries.

Throughout the past couple of years, however, the violence in both the city and the country has started decreasing. El Salvador was the most dangerous country in the world for both 2015 and 2016, and San Salvador its most dangerous city. This has changed since 2017 as the government tries to get a handle on the drug and gang activity.

The only American city in the top 10 most dangerous of the world, St. Louis experiences an average of 61 homicides per 100,000 people. Around 187 homicides took place in 2018, and the city overtook Detroit as the most dangerous in the country. The violence in St. Louis is not primarily related to drug trafficking or political tensions as it is in many dangerous Latin American cities, although these things do play a role.

In general, St. Louis is unsafe in a different way than most of the other countries on this list. Although there are quite a lot of homicides and assaults, tourists are largely safe from this violence, and the city has a high number of law enforcement officers. There is a specific area in the north of the city where over 60% of the murders take place in the city. There are many components at play in St. Louis that researchers believe contribute to the city’s high homicide rates. The state of Missouri has some of the fewest restrictions on firearms in the country. For example, it’s completely legal to carry a gun in a vehicle- even without a permit. Much of the violence in St. Louis is related to shootings and armed robberies.

St. Louis is also dangerous in many other ways unrelated to violence. Some researchers take into account the financial safety levels, traffic fatalities, and risk of a natural disaster. These findings still indicate that St. Louis is the most dangerous city in America and one of the least safe in the whole world.

Another outlier in the world’s most dangerous cities, Cape Town is one of the non-Latin American countries that still have extremely high levels of homicide and violence. The average rate of homicide is around 66 per 100,000 people and the murder toll reached 2,868 in 2018. It’s considered the most dangerous city in South Africa, a country still struggling with the after effects of colonialism and apartheid.

Researchers believe that the high violence and danger levels in South Africa can be traced back to problems with policing. Many regions have disputes amongst themselves and there may even be a civil war brewing. Although many cities around the world are experiencing a decrease in their murder rates, Cape Town has recently seen a spike in homicide. The government has even been forced to deploy troops into the city in an attempt to calm some of the violence and killings.

So far, in the first six months of 2019, Cape Town has had an average of eight murders every single day. With a combination of racial issues, political tensions, and gang violence all at play, it’s no wonder that Cape Town is among the most dangerous cities in the world. Although violence in Cape Town is mostly happening in low income or gang controlled areas, it has seeped into main areas and tourist destinations like Table Mountain. As one of South Africa’s top cities for tourism, it’s essential to be on the lookout in Cape Town and to take safety seriously.

Brazil as a whole is not one of the absolute most dangerous countries in the world. It’s a popular and generally safe destination for tourists despite some of the tensions and drug activity. However, the country does include two of the most dangerous cities overall. One of these cities is Fortaleza, found in the Northeast region of the country. This city used to be among the richest of the world, and it is still one of the most popular tourist destinations. Many people don’t realize that it is also one of the most dangerous cities in the world, with some of the highest rates of homicide.

Fortaleza experienced 69 homicides per 100,000 people and a total of 2,724 murders in 2018. Most of the violent crime in this city and in the country of Brazil itself, takes place in favelas- the poorest neighborhoods, comparable to slums. These areas are usually unprotected and very rarely policed. There is a lack of law enforcement and high levels of corruption due to economic instability. Not to mention, drug trafficking is still a large and lucrative industry in the country, bringing plenty of cartel and gang violence with it.

As with most dangerous cities, it’s essential to avoid straying from common and public tourist areas and always be aware of your surroundings. Backpacking or making unplanned trips through Fortaleza is definitely not a good idea.

Natal is yet another dangerous Brazilian city, with slightly higher homicide rates than Fortaleza. This city experienced 75 homicides per 100,000 people and over 1,000 murders in 2018. Found in the northeastern part of the country, Natal is the capital of Rio Grade do Norte, one of Brazil’s states. Along with Fortaleza, this city attracts many of Brazil’s tourists. However, there is a dark side to Natal that places it in the top 10 of the world’s most dangerous cities. Brazil is responsible for around 10% of the world’s murders, and a number of them take place in and around Natal.

This city’s rates of homicide even had the highest growing homicide rates in the world over the past decade. A large part of this crime and violence is related to drug and gang activity, as well as political instability. Natal has regular protests which can sometimes get out of hand and result in injuries and homicides taking place. Pedestrians and drivers in Natal are also at risk due to a large number of armed robberies and holdups taking place here. Restaurants in Natal are also a common target of thieves, especially during the night.

Natal is one of the best examples of how poverty can affect and perpetuate crime. High poverty and unemployment levels are one of the main reasons why this country is so overrun by homicides and other violent crimes. Not to mention, there is a distinct racial element to the violence in Natal. Studies have shown that young men of African descent have a much higher fatality rate in this city compared to elsewhere.

Venezuela is another one of the world’s most dangerous countries, with homicide and political unrest on the rise in recent years. Economic and leadership changes in Venezuela have had an impact on the already high rates of violence in the country. One of the worst cities by far is Ciudad Guayana, found along the bank of the Orinoco river. This city had 78 homicides per 100,000 and a total of 645 murders in 2018.

Crime in the country, in general, has been high for many years. Venezuela was significantly impacted by the presidency of Hugo Chavez, and their government has been very unstable and insecure since his death in 2013. The judicial system is all but ineffective in Venezuela, as 98% of crimes go completely unprosecuted. This state of near impunity to crimes just encourages the perpetuation of theft, abuse of authority, and senseless killing in Ciudad Guayana and in Venezuela as a whole. This country is well known for being a major player in the industry of human trafficking. Unfortunately, the government has not done much in an effort to stop this, and the kind of violence related to human trafficking and the drug trade has continued to run rampant.

Ciudad Guayana is a city afflicted with gang violence, drug related homicide, and the general danger that accompanies the country’s state of unrest. This city has been hit especially hard by economic hardships, resulting in further crime- both petty and organized. Most of the danger in Ciudad Guayana is concentrated in poor areas like slums and neighborhoods outside the center of the city.

Yet another dangerous Venezuelan city, Caracas is also the capital of the country, found along the coastal mountain range. Caracas was the world’s most dangerous city overall in 2017, but it has since dropped down slightly to number three. However, it remains the world’s most dangerous capital city and one of the place with the most homicides. Caracas saw 100 homicides per 100,000 people and a grand total of 2,980 murders in 2018. Unfortunately, Venezuela experiences so many murders that many believe the true homicide statistics are much higher.

Although it’s possible to make a safe trip to Venezuela, most travel agencies will not go to Caracas. The state of this city is simply too unsteady and unpredictable, even using the most cautious of travel advice. Much of the violence and gang control in Caracas is concentrated in specific neighborhoods, but it does have a tendency to explode and spread unexpectedly.

The city of Caracas has been one of the world’s top 10 most dangerous cities since 2008, climbing the list steadily almost every year. In general, crime in the country has been rising since the 1990s, and there hasn’t been a lot of effective action taken against it. Because of the extreme corruption in law enforcement and judicial systems, as well as the similar violence in surrounding countries, crime in Venezuela has been quite difficult to pin down. Recently, the country has had mounting tensions with the bordering country of Colombia, causing some retaliation from Colombian gangs and drug cartels.

Although Acapulco, Mexico is well-known as a flagship resort city, the reality behind these resorts is full of danger and violence. Acapulco is one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico and in the entire world, often competing with Tijuana for the top spot. 2018 statistics reveal that Acapulco has around 111 homicides per 100,000 people and had 948 murders in the past year.

Tensions between organized crime groups and police cause serious and often public violence like firefights and shootouts. The tourist areas of Acapulco experience some crime and violence, but the vast majority of the city’s danger comes from the outside neighborhoods.

In general, the violence and homicide is considered to be the result of a drug war. Cartels and crime groups control many of Acapulco’s poor neighborhoods as well as the flow of drugs in and out of the city. Since 2014, the number of homicide has been steadily increasing as the drug war has just continued growing. America has had a growing demand for drugs like heroin and opiates, putting pressure on many Mexican drug cartels.

Other reasons for the increase and steady continuation of violence in Acapulco are the competition for new or recently opened up territories as well as some changes to the law that made it much easier to lawbreakers to go free. More evidence is now required by the courts to lock up anyone suspected of a crime. This means that many cartel members, corrupt politicians, or even drug dealers are able to stay out of jail and on the streets.

Based on the most recent 2018 statistics, the number one most dangerous city in the world is Tijuana, Mexico. The holder of this spot usually fluctuates year by year, depending on the exact crime and homicide rates. Based on the latest numbers, Tijuana has 138 homicides per 100,000 people. This amounted to nearly 3,000 murders in 2018, an average of about seven per day. Prior to 2017, Brazil had the most dangerous cities in the world. However, Mexico recently took over with homicide rates mounting throughout the year.

One of the main reasons for the turmoil and violence in Tijuana is the drug market. As a border city, right at the edge of the United States border, Tijuana has access to prime drug trafficking routes. Cities with large drug markets often have serious gang problems as well, and Tijuana is no exception to this rule. Not to mention, Tijuana is known for having many corrupt police officers and government officials, as well as an infamous sex work industry. All of these factors work together to make Tijuana the most violent city in the world, and the planet’s murder capital.

Unfortunately, the violence in Tijuana has also contributed to its economic decline. As a border city, Tijuana was very popular among US tourists. However, tightened border security, as well as increasing reports of violence and gang encounters, have cause tourism number to drop significantly. Many of the city’s residents chose to move away if they had the financial resources to do so. This has caused a further contribution to the cycle of poverty and crime.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever visited a city on this list, you may recognize that the danger levels aren’t always immediately apparent or as drastic as they may seem on paper. There are millions of people living across these cities, and statistics are bound to fluctuate. Not to mention, they can be quite misleading and paint a different picture of the city than reality.

For example, in many dangerous cities, homicide rates may make the entire city seem as though it’s full of violent attacks. In reality, the murders are often happening in very concentrated areas and are often confined to previous convicts or even gang members. The odds of being randomly murdered for no reason are still incredibly low. Another key thing to remember about these cities is the unfortunate cycle that crime and poverty tend to get into. Crime causes more poverty and in turn, poverty causes more crime. Once the cycle begins, it is difficult for a city or an economy to break out of. Many of the cities on this list are some of the poorest in the world as well as being the most dangerous- those two facts certainly are not coincidences.

Latin America is considered the most violent region of the world, excluding war zones. It’s no wonder that most of the cities on this list are found in this region. Many researchers believe that the prevalence of cocaine in this region is no coincidence and probably plays a major role in the high levels of violence and homicide.