Latin America.
In 2024, Latin America experienced about 109,994 murders, leading to a median homicide rate of 18.4 per 100,000 people. While most Latin American countries saw rate declines, the statistic highlights the ongoing challenges of violence in the region.
The countries with the lowest Homicide rate in Latin America in 2024 were El Salvador, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
On the other hand, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Honduras, and Brazil recorded the highest homicide rates in the region.
| Country | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Salvador | 35.8 | 21.2 | 18.1 | 7.8 | 2.4 | 1.89 | -21.3% ▼ |
| 2 | Bolivia | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.0 | -16.7% ▼ |
| 3 | Argentina | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 3.8 | -13.6% ▼ |
| 4 | Chile | 2.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 5.5 | -12.7% ▼ |
| 5 | Peru | 8.5 | 8.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 36.4 ▲ |
| 6 | Uruguay | 9.8 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 10.8 | 10.7 | 10.6 | -0.9% ▼ |
| 7 | Panama | 11.2 | 11.6 | 12.8 | 11.4 | 12.5 | 12.9 | 3.2% ▲ |
| 8 | Guatemala | 21.5 | 15.3 | 16.6 | 17.3 | 16.7 | 16.1 | -3.6% ▼ |
| 9 | Costa Rica | 11.0 | 11.2 | 11.5 | 12.8 | 17.2 | 16.7 | -2.9% ▼ |
| 10 | Mexico | 27.0 | 27.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 | 24.0 | 19.3 | -19.6% ▼ |
| 11 | Brazil | 19.7 | 19.3 | 18.5 | 23.1 | 22.3 | 21.1 | -5.4% ▼ |
| 12 | Honduras | 41.2 | 37.6 | 38.6 | 38.1 | 34.4 | 25.3 | -26.5% ▼ |
| 13 | Colombia | 25.4 | 24.3 | 26.8 | 26.2 | 25.9 | 25.4 | -1.9% ▼ |
| 14 | Venezuela | 60.3 | 45.6 | 40.9 | 17.7 | 26.8 | 26.2 | -2.2% ▼ |
| 15 | Ecuador | 6.7 | 7.7 | 14.0 | 25.9 | 44.5 | 38.8 | -12.8% ▼ |
| 16 | Nicaragua | 7.5 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 6.2 | — | — |
| 16 | Paraguay | 6.2 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 6.2 | — | — |
For the second consecutive year, El Salvador recorded the lowest homicide rate in Latin America, with 114 total murders in 2024, resulting in a rate of 1.89 per 100,000 people. This marks a 21.3% decrease from the previous year.
On the contrary, Ecuador had the highest homicide rate in the region in 2024, recording 6,986 murders, equating to a rate of 38.8 per 100,000 people. On a positive note, this represents a 12.8% murder rate decrease from the previous year.
It’s important to note that El Salvador excludes certain deaths from its homicide rate, such as those resulting from confrontations between authorities and suspected gang members, as well as murders involving bodies found in mass graves.
By excluding these deaths, El Salvador’s homicide rate may seem lower than it actually is.
SEE ALSO: El Salvador Homicide Rate: The Lowest in Latin America
Latin America Homicide Rate Winners & Losers
In 2024, Honduras and El Salvador stood out as the biggest homicide rate drop winners, with decreases of 26.5% and 21.3%, respectively, marking significant progress in improving public safety.
In contrast, Peru (36.4%) and Panama (3.2%) registered the highest percentage increases in homicide rates, highlighting growing violence challenges in both countries, especially Honduras.
Peru’s homicide rate remains relatively low, but the country has continued to grapple with rising violence, ending 2024 with a 36.4% increase, the most extensive percentage increase outside the Caribbean.
SEE ALSO: Living in El Salvador: Top Reasons for Moving to El Salvador
In conclusion, 2024 saw El Salvador leading with the lowest homicide rate of 1.89, while Ecuador struggled with the highest at 38.8. These stark contrasts highlight ongoing challenges in the region.
