Latin America.
According to “InSight Crime’s 2023 Homicide Round-Up,“ At least 117,492 people were murdered in Latin America and the Caribbean during 2023, putting the median homicide rate around 20 per 100,000 people. But homicide data in many countries is missing or unreliable, so the actual number is likely higher.
The countries with the lowest Homicide rate in Latin America in 2023 were El Salvador, Peru, Chile, Suriname, and Nicaragua. The big surprise was El Salvador Jumping to first place.
On the other hand, the countries in Latin America with the highest homicide rate in 2023 were Ecuador, Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico.
| 2023 Rank |
Country | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Salvador | 35.8 | 21.2 | 18.1 | 7.8 | 2.4 | -69.2% ▼ |
| 2 | Peru | 8.5 | 8.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 3.2 | -27.2% ▼ |
| 3 | Chile | 2.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 4.5 | -7.0% ▼ |
| 4 | Suriname | — | — | — | 7.7 | 4.9 | -37.0% ▼ |
| 5 | Nicaragua | 7.5 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 6.2 | -7.5% ▼ |
| 6 | Paraguay | — | 6.6 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 6.2 | –22.2% ▼ |
| 7 | Uruguay | 9.8 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 11.2 | 11.2 | 0% |
| 8 | Panama | 11.2 | 11.6 | 12.8 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 0% |
| 9 | Guatemala | 21.5 | 15.3 | 16.6 | 17.3 | 16.7 | -3.5% ▼ |
| 10 | Costa Rica | 11.0 | 11.2 | 11.5 | 12.8 | 17.2 | 34.4% ▲ |
| 11 | Brazil | 19.7 | 19.3 | 18.5 | 17.4 | 18.1 | 4.2% ▲ |
| 12 | Guyana | — | — | 15.2 | 15.1 | 19.7 | 30.5% ▲ |
| 13 | Belize | 33.5 | 24.3 | 29.0 | 25.0 | 21.5 | -14% ▼ |
| 14 | Mexico | 27.0 | 27.0 | 26.0 | 25.2 | 23.3 | -7.5% ▼ |
| 15 | Colombia | 25.4 | 24.3 | 26.8 | 26.1 | 25.7 | -1.5% ▼ |
| 16 | Venezuela | 60.3 | 45.6 | 40.9 | 40.4 | 26.8 | -33.7% ▼ |
| 17 | Honduras | 41.2 | 37.6 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 31.1 | -13.1% ▼ |
| 18 | Ecuador | 6.7 | 7.7 | 14.0 | 25.5 | 44.5 | 74.5% ▲ |
| — | Argentina | 5.0 | 4.6 | — | — | — | — |
| — | Bolivia | — | — | — | — | — | — |
In 2023, four Latin American nations witnessed a surge in homicides compared to the preceding year; all other countries maintained the same rate or decreased.
Ecuador saw an increase in its homicide rate from 25.5 per 100,000 people in 2022 to 44.5 (74.5%). Costa Rica’s rate rose from 12.8 to 17.2 (34.4%), Guyana increased from 15.1 to 19.7 (30.5%), and Brazil increased from 17.4 to 18.1 (4.2%).
Among the four nations witnessing a rise in homicide rates in 2023, the big surprises were Ecuador and Costa Rica.
Before 2021, Ecuador’s homicide rate was under 10; however, violence started to increase in 2021 and has continued to grow every year since.
Also, Costa Rica, the Pura Vida country, has constantly maintained its homicide rate at around 11%; nevertheless, the country experienced an increase in violence starting in 2022 and continuing in 2023.
El Salvador: The Lowest Homicide Rate in Latin America
With 2.4 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, El Salvador registered the lowest homicide rate in Latin America in 2023. The country reduced its murder rate by 69.2% from 2022.
The historic lows were achieved as the Bukele administration continued a harsh crackdown against the country’s violent gangs, MS13 and Barrio 18.
Salvadoran authorities have used the controversial State of Exception to mount a direct attack on gangs and those suspected of helping them. Under this security measure, the government has arrested over 75,000 people suspected of being gang members or having an association with them.
Ecuador: The Highest Homicide Rate in Latin America
A spike in violence that started in 2021 has made Ecuador have the highest homicide rate of any country in Central or South America in 2023.
The escalating criminal violence propelled Ecuador’s homicide rate from 25.5 in 2022 to 44.5, marking a significant 74.5% increase compared to the preceding year.
The nation’s rapid plunge into chaos is evident as the homicide rate has surged in five years. The roots of this violent outbreak are fueled by competition among drug trafficking groups for strategic routes.
Insight Crime highlighted that the “Previous administration’s heavy-handed approaches failed to curtail gangs. With mega-prisons filled to the brim, gangs began organizing behind bars, using violence to show their strength and take out those who stood in their way.”
In 2024, unrest persisted as gangs carried out numerous attacks, such as forcefully entering a live news broadcast, engaging in prison riots, and targeting law enforcement and governmental figures.
