San Salvador, El Salvador’s capital city, is not one of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world. San Salvador left the notorious list as one of the top 50 most dangerous cities in the world in 2019 and has not returned since.
The cities of El Salvador (in particular the capital city, San Salvador) disappeared from the map of the 50 most violent cities in the world in 2019. In 2015, San Salvador was ranked third. It is an extraordinary result that must be recognized. Tiziano Breda.
Leaving this list is great for the capital city, considering that San Salvador had been part of the list since 2008, reaching rank 3 in 2009 and 2015.
| Year | Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
Rank | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | — | Report |
| 2021 | — | — | Report |
| 2020 | — | — | Report |
| 2019 | — | — | Report |
| 2018 | 50.32 | 24 | Report |
| 2017 | 59.06 | 17 | Report |
| 2016 | 83.39 | 7 | Report |
| 2015 | 108.54 | 3 | Report |
| 2014 | 61.21 | 13 | Report |
| 2013 | 44.74 | 27 | Report |
| 2012 | 32.48 | 44 | Report |
| 2011 | 58.63 | 20 | Report |
| 2010 | 76.12 | 16 | Report |
| 2009 | 95.00 | 3 | Report |
| 2008 | 49.00 | 7 | Report |
Safety has Improve in San Salvador
Thanks to the effort of the Salvadoran police and security forces, safety and security have improved in the nation’s capital and the entire country.
For the first time in over 25 years, the homicide rate in El Salvador per 100,000 people reached single digits; it was 7.8 in 2022. San Salvador was not even in the top ten most dangerous places in El Salvador in 2022.
In 2022, San Salvador ranked 14 on the list of the most dangerous places in El Salvador, with a population of over 50,000 people.
| Year | Total Homicides | Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
Most dangerous place in El Salvador rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| ** Aug 2023 | 4 | 1.19 | 16 |
| 2022 | 31 | 9.23 | 14 |
| 2021 | 91 | 27.00 | *3 |
SEE ALSO: Top 15 things to do in San Salvador, the capital city of El Salvador
Even if we include all the heavily populated municipalities around the capital city of San Salvador, what is known as the San Salvador metropolitan area, the rate remains low.
The metropolitan area includes San Salvador, Santa Tecla, Ciudad Delgado, San Marcos, Mejicanos, Soyapango, Ilopango, and San Martin.
| Year | Population | Total Homicides | Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
|---|---|---|---|
| ** Aug 2023 | 1,251,269 | 13 | 1.04 |
| 2022 | 1,252,955 | 97 | 7.74 |
| 2021 | 1,254,883 | 211 | 16.81 |
Can San Salvador maintain its security levels?
The Bukele administration declared a frontal attack on criminal organizations (gangs), which controlled the capital city for years.
The Bukele administration has used the Territorial Control Plan and the State of Exception to make San Salvador one of the safest cities in the country.
The Bukele territorial control plan has been in effect since June 2019 and has produced positive results. The State of Exception began in late March and has helped lower homicide rates further.
As long as the government continues with its direct approach against organized crime, San Salvador will stay out of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world.
San Salvador is Safer now!
Compared to how dangerous the Capital City used to be, San Salvador has improved to record safety during the Bukele administration.
Locals and tourists alike can see how things are in the capital city. Overall, people are optimistic and feel safer walking at all hours, including at night.
Salvadorans are extremely happy that San Salvador is not on the list of the top 50 most dangerous cities in the world.
