The Most Dangerous Cities In The World

When planning your next trip, you may want to avoid some of the cities we are going to mention. In 2017, they are among the most dangerous places in the world based on murder cases per capita.

The world’s most dangerous cities

Los Cabos, Mexico is the most dangerous city in the world with a murder rate of 111.33 per 100,000 population. The position of this city on the list of the world’s most dangerous cities is an indication of the increase in crime that Mexico has experienced in the last year. In 2017 and 2018, the resort town of Los Cabos made headlines for a string of alarming murders. Most of the violence in Los Cabos was largely related to the drug trade and tourists were not targeted. Nevertheless, the examples of violence are still sweeping and the popular holiday destination has earned a place at the top of the list of the world’s most dangerous cities.

Caracas, Venezuela, is the second most dangerous city in the world. With 111.19 murders per 100,000 people, it previously claimed first place. In third place is Acapulco, Mexico, with 106.63 homicides per 100,000 people. Violence caused by drug trafficking and organized gangs have been blamed for the relentless violence in these cities, although the factors are generally quite complicated. Unfortunately, none of these cities are foreigners in the top three, except perhaps the resort town of Acapulco, where violence from other regions of the country has gone in recent years.

The most dangerous cities in the United States

Four cities in the United States are ranked among the most dangerous in the world. The cities are, in descending order of homicide rate, St. Louis. Louis, Missouri (65.83), Baltimore, Maryland (55.48), New Orleans, Louisiana (40.10) and Detroit, Michigan (39.69). In the United States, relaxed gun ownership laws are often the subject of much debate. In the United States, gun violence is responsible for tens of thousands of nationwide deaths each year.

One city that is a notable omission from the list is Chicago. Although the city of Chicago has had a reputation for crime in recent years, its murder rate is 27.22 murders per 100,000 residents. It is important to note that although the city of Chicago experienced an overall decrease in violent crime in the early 2000s, the crime rate of the 2010s appears to be on a ramp again. A full report of the most dangerous cities in the United States can be found here.

Latin American cities

Of the entries on this list, many cities can be found in a region of the world known as Latin America. Latin America generally refers to countries in Central and South America, where the predominant language is Spanish (or in the case of Brazil, Portuguese). The factors for the dominance of these countries are varied and complicated. Violence related to drug trafficking and income inequality, corrupt politicians and officials, and residues from a history of brutal colonialism have all been designated as factors that encourage violence.

South African cities

Of this list of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world by violent crime, three cities in South Africa make the list: Cape Town (62.25), Durban (38.12) and Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth) (37.53). South Africa, which inhabits the southernmost point of the massive African continent, has often garnered publicity due to its high crime rates, including homicide rates. Factors such as high unemployment rates and systemic racism are all responsible for the violent trends in South African cities.

1 Los Cabos Mexico 111.33
2 Caracas Venezuela 111.19
3 Acapulco Mexico 106.63
4 Natal Brazil 102.56
5 Tijuana Mexico 100.77
6 La Paz Mexico 84.79
7 Fortaleza Brazil 83.48
8 Ciudad Victoria Mexico 83.32
9 Ciudad Guyana Venezuela 80.28
10 Belem Brazil 71.38
11 Vitoria da Conquista Brazil 70.26
12 Culiacan Mexico 70.10
13 St. Louis United States 65.83
14 Maceio Brazil 63.94
15 Cape Town South Africa 62.25
16 Kingston Jamaica 59.71
17 San Salvador El Salvador 59.06
18 Aracaju Brazil 58.88
19 Feira de Santana Brazil 58.81
20 Ciudad Juraz Mexico 56.16
21 Baltimore United States 55.48
22 Recife Brazil 54.96
23 Maturin Venezuela 54.43
24 Guatemala City Guatemala 53.49
25 Salvador Brazil 51.58
26 San Pedro Sula Honduras 51.18
27 Valencia Venezuela 49.74
28 Cali Colombia 49.59
29 Chihuahua Mexico 49.48
30 Joao Pessoa Brazil 49.17
31 Obregon Mexico 48.96
32 San Juan Puerto Rico 48.70
33 Barquisimeto Venezuela 48.23
34 Manaus Brazil 48.07
35 Distrito Central Honduras 48.00
36 Tepic Mexico 47.09
37 Palmira Colombia 46.65
38 Reynosa Mexico 41.95
39 Porto Alegre Brazil 40.96
40 Macapa Brazil 40.24
41 New Orleans United States 40.10
42 Detroit United States 39.69
43 Mazatlan Mexico 39.32
44 Durban South Africa 38.12
45 Campos dos Goytacazes Brazil 37.53
46 Nelson Mandela Bay South Africa 37.53
47 Campina Grande Brazil 37.29
48 Teresina Brazil 37.05
49 Vitoria Brazil 36.07
50 Cucuta Colombia 34.78