Image by In 2024, Latin America leads the list of the 50 Most Violent Cities in the World with 37 entries, followed by the United States and South Africa with five each, and the Caribbean with three. Notably, Central America reports none, marking a significant shift.
Mexico leads the infamous list with 20 cities, an increase from 16 cities last year, solidifying its position as the country with the most violent cities worldwide.
Following Mexico, the countries with the most cities in the list were Brazil (8), Colombia (6), South Africa (5), United States (5), Ecuador (3), Haiti (1), Jamaica (1) and Trinidad and Tobago (1).
| City | Country | Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port-au-Prince | Haití | 139.31 |
| 2 | Colima | Mexico | 126.95 |
| 3 | Acapulco | Mexico | 102.28 |
| 4 | Manzanillo | Mexico | 92.17 |
| 5 | Tijuana | Mexico | 91.35 |
| 6 | Obregon City | Mexico | 89.20 |
| 7 | Machala | Ecuador | 87.47 |
| 8 | Celaya | Mexico | 86.91 |
| 9 | Zamora | Mexico | 85.17 |
| 10 | Port of Spain | Trinidad and Tobago | 76.34 |
| 11 | Cuernavaca | Mexico | 74.56 |
| 12 | Guayaquil | Ecuador | 73.06 |
| 13 | Juarez City | Mexico | 71.38 |
| 14 | Mandela Bay | South Africa | 70.85 |
| 15 | Manabí | Ecuador | 70.79 |
| 16 | Cape Town | South Africa | 70.22 |
| 17 | Culiacán | Mexico | 60.82 |
| 18 | Buffalo | South Africa | 60.21 |
| 19 | Uruapan | Mexico | 59.64 |
| 20 | Durban South | South Africa | 58.38 |
| 21 | Irapuato, | Mexico | 57.22 |
| 22 | Feira de Santana | Brazil | 55.63 |
| 23 | Johannesburg | South Africa | 49.02 |
| 24 | Kingston | Jamaica | 48.87 |
| 25 | Memphis | United States | 48.01 |
| 26 | Santa Maria | Colombia | 45.24 |
| 27 | Chihuahua | Mexico | 43.49 |
| 28 | Chilpancingo | Mexico | 43.09 |
| 29 | Cali | Colombia | 42.31 |
| 30 | Zacatecas | Mexico | 42.02 |
| 31 | Recife | Brazil | 41.88 |
| 32 | León | Mexico | 41.15 |
| 33 | Palmira | Colombia | 40.94 |
| 34 | Fortaleza | Brazil | 40.68 |
| 35 | Salvador Bahia | Brazil | 39.71 |
| 36 | Barranquilla | Colombia | 37.75 |
| 37 | Tapachula | Mexico | 36.22 |
| 38 | Benito Juarez | Mexico | 36.05 |
| 39 | Cúcuta | Colombia | 36.00 |
| 40 | Baltimore | United States | 35.56 |
| 41 | Maceió | Brazil | 35.40 |
| 42 | Mexico City | Mexico | 35.38 |
| 43 | Cartagena | Colombia | 35.02 |
| 44 | Porto Velho | Brazil | 34.32 |
| 45 | New Orleans | United States | 34.05 |
| 46 | Detroit | United States | 32.06 |
| 47 | Manaus | Brazil | 31.19 |
| 48 | Cleveland | United States | 30.33 |
| 49 | Morelia | Mexico | 29.85 |
| 50 | Caruaru | Brazil | 29.50 |
The Most Violent Cities
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, tops the list of the 50 Most Violent Cities in the World with a rate of 139.31 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants; this Caribbean city ranked third in 2023 with a homicide rate of 117.24
The Mexican city of Colima ranks second with a murder rate of 126.95 per 100,000 people, down from last year’s number one position with a rate of 140.32.
Acapulco ranks third with a homicide rate of 102.28. Last year, this tourist resort region held the 15th spot with a rate of 68.49.
Central America Violent Cities
For the first time in over 15 years, no city in Central America is on the 50 Most Violent Cities Worldwide ranking. This is a surprising and positive shift for the region, sparking hope for a safer future!
Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula were the remaining Central American cities on the list. However, they dropped out of the rankings this year.
Last year, San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa were ranked 48th and 50th, respectively. Not long ago, San Pedro Sula held the title of the World’s most violent city for four straight years, from 2011 to 2014.
Before the two Honduran cities exited the infamous violent list, Guatemala City dropped off in 2020, and San Salvador exited in 2019.
After years of violence, Central American cities are finally off the 50 Most Violent Cities in the World, which is a huge deal. This violence reduction shows real progress and encourages us to believe in a safer future for the Central American region.
SEE ALSO: 2024 Central America Homicide Rate: El Salvador Had the Lowest and Honduras the Highest Murder Rate
Latin America Violent Cities
Latin America remains the most violent region in the World. Evidence of this violence is that 37 Latin American cities made the list of the 50 Most Violent Cities in the World in 2024.
Once again, Mexico leads the pack with 20 cities on the list, showing how crime and cartel violence continue to grip the country.
Brazil follows with eight cities, while Colombia has six, proving that organized crime and urban violence are still significant issues.
Ecuador, which has seen a rise in violence in recent years, now has three cities on the list.
Despite efforts to improve security, many Latin American cities remain dangerous hotspots. The region has a long way to go, but hopefully, change is coming, just like in Central America!
SEE ALSO: Latin America Homicide Rate: Which Country Had the Lowest Rate?
Mexico’s Violent Cities
Mexico continues to grapple with extreme violence, with 20 of its cities ranking among the top 50 most violent worldwide.
In fact, seven of the top 10 most dangerous cities globally are in Mexico. Colima tops Mexico’s list with a staggering rate of 126.95 murders per 100,000 people, followed by Acapulco at 102.28 and Manzanillo at 92.17.
Tijuana ranks fourth with a murder rate of 91.35, while Obregon City comes in fifth with 89.20. Celaya follows in sixth place at 86.91, and Zamora, with a rate of 85.17, also makes the list. These are the country’s top seven hotspots for violence in 2024.
While the Mexican government has stepped up efforts to address the violence issue, the situation remains dire, with many citizens feeling the effects of the violence on their daily lives.
Brazil’s Dangerous Cities
Brazil is home to 8 of the world’s 50 most violent cities worldwide, making it the second country with the most violent cities globally.
The most violent city in Brazil is Feira de Santana, with a rate of 55.63 murders per 100,000 people. This city ranks 22nd in the overall worldwide ranking.
Recife follows at global ranking 31st with a 41.88 homicide rate, and Fortaleza is not far behind, ranking 34th overall with a 40.68 murder rate.
These cities are a stark reminder of Brazil’s ongoing struggles with violence and crime.
Colombia’s Violent Cities
Colombia ranks as the third Latin American country with the most violent cities, with six making it into the world’s top 50.
The most violent city in Colombia is Santa Maria, ranked 26th globally with a murder rate of 45.24 per 100,000 people. Cali comes in next at 29th place with a rate of 42.31, and Palmeira is ranked 33rd with a 40.94 murder rate.
While Colombia has made progress in security over the years, these numbers show that violence is still a significant challenge in many areas. Crime, gang activity, and social issues continue to fuel the high murder rates in these cities.
Ecuador’s Dangerous Cities
Ecuador is the fourth Latin American country with the most violent cities, having three in the world’s top 50 ranking.
Machala stands out as the most violent city in Ecuador, ranked 7th worldwide with 87.47 murders per 100,000 people. Guayaquil follows closely at 12th with a 73.06 rate, while Manabi comes in 15th with a 70.79 murder rate.
With one city in the top ten, Ecuador faces significant challenges tackling violence and crime.
United States Dangerous Cities
The United States has five cities ranked among the 50 most violent in the world. These violent cities highlight ongoing struggles with crime, gang activity, and social issues affecting some of its major urban areas.
The most violent city in the United States is Memphis, with a rate of 48.01 homicides per 100,000 people. The city of Memphis ranks 25th worldwide.
Baltimore, Maryland, with a murder rate of 35.56, ranks second in the U.S. and 40th globally. In third place in the U.S. is the city of New Orleans, with a 34.05 murder rate; this city ranks 45th overall.
Having five cities on the list of the world’s most violent highlights the need for more vigorous efforts to address crime and improve safety in some regions of the United States.
Caribbean Violent Cities
The Caribbean region has three cities ranked among the 50 most violent in the world. Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, the violence in these cities underscores the ongoing challenges with crime and violence in parts of the Caribbean.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, ranks as the most violent city in the world, with a shocking homicide rate of 139.31 per 100,000 people.
The second Caribbean city on the list of the world’s most violent, with a homicide rate of 76.34 per 100,000 people, is Port of Spain city in Trinidad and Tobago.
The last Caribbean city among the infamous violent cities is Kingston in Jamaica; this city has a homicide rate of 48.87 per 100,000 people.
These three Caribbean cities experienced significant increases in homicide rates, primarily due to escalating gang violence, the proliferation of illegal firearms, and socio-economic challenges.
Most Violent Cities in the World 2024
The 50 most violent cities in the world in 2024 paint a grim picture for Latin America, especially Mexico, which has 20 of its cities on the list.
37 of the 50 most violent cities in the world are in Latin America; this violence deeply affects everyday people, from fear and insecurity to the constant struggle to stay safe.
Families face challenges finding stability, and communities suffer from broken infrastructures and limited opportunities.
