San Salvador Historic Downtown
For years, San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, was synonymous with urban violence. Rampant gang activity, widespread extortion, and one of the world’s highest homicide rates defined daily life in the capital city.
San Salvador frequently appeared on the list of the 50 Most Violent Cities in the world. However, since 2019, the city has dropped off that list and shows no signs of returning.
What changed after 2019? A combination of government crackdowns on criminal networks, sweeping reforms, and aggressive security strategies has reshaped the nation’s capital.
| Year | Homicide rate per 100,000 People | Rank | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.49 | — | Report |
| 2024 | 2.09 | — | Report |
| 2023 | 4.18 | — | Report |
| 2022 | 9.23 | — | Report |
| 2021 | 27.0 | — | 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 |
Today, San Salvador stands as the safest capital in Central America, a sharp turnaround from its violent past. Strong security measures and sustained anti-gang operations have dramatically reduced crime, transforming the city’s safety and daily life.
SEE ALSO: Homicide Rate in El Salvador
Safety Has Improve in San Salvador
Thanks to the efforts of the Salvadoran police and security forces, safety and security have improved in the nation’s capital and the entire country.
Since 2021, San Salvador has not even been the most dangerous city in El Salvador. In 2025, the capital city ranked 12 on the list of the most dangerous places in the country, with a population of over 50,000 people.
| Year | Total Homicides | Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
Most dangerous place in El Salvador rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 1.49 | 12 |
| 2024 | 7 | 2.09 | 11 |
| 2023 | 14 | 4.18 | 4 |
| 2022 | 31 | 9.23 | 14 |
| 2021 | 91 | 27.00 | *3 |
Even when accounting for the population of the San Salvador Metropolitan Area (AMSS), the homicide rate remains low enough to keep the San Salvador region off the list of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world.
The metropolitan area spans 28 districts across seven municipalities in two departments: San Salvador and La Libertad.
| Year | Population | Total Homicides | Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,016,811 | 18 | 0.89 |
| 2024 | 2,016,811 | 25 | 1.24 |
| 2023 | 1,251,269 | 32 | 2.6 |
| 2022 | 1,252,955 | 97 | 7.74 |
| 2021 | 1,254,883 | 211 | 16.81 |
How San Salvador Left the World’s Most Violent Cities List
San Salvador left the world’s most violent cities list thanks to the government’s aggressive Territorial Control Plan and the controversial but effective State of Exception.
These decisive security measures drastically reduced homicides and transformed the capital city’s social and cultural dynamics, as well as those of the country.
From Chaos to Control: The Turning Point in 2019
The security shift at the nation’s capital began in 2019 when President Nayib Bukele took office and immediately rolled out the Territorial Control Plan (Plan Control Territorial).
The government designed this multi-phase security strategy to wrest control of neighborhoods from gangs and restore law and order.
The Territorial Control Plan increased police and military presence, along with high-tech monitoring devices, in high-crime areas. It also added social service projects and infrastructure in underdeveloped regions.
Crushing the Gangs: The State of Exception
The most dramatic step came in March 2022, when the government declared a State of Emergency (Estado de Excepción) following a weekend spike in gang-related killings.
What followed was an unprecedented crackdown on organized crime. In about four years, authorities have arrested over 90,000 suspected gang members and collaborators, effectively dismantling the core structures of MS-13 and Barrio 18, two of the most notorious gangs in the region.
Under the State of Exception, security forces neutralized traditional gang strongholds in San Salvador. Violence declined, and neighborhoods that were once dangerous and called “red zones” became safer.
The Salvadoran State of Exception is controversial due to reported human rights violations, including mass arrests and limited due process.
However, despite criticism, most Salvadorans support the harsh security measures, crediting them with restoring peace and reclaiming public spaces once controlled by gangs—including San Salvador, the nation’s capital.
A Capital Transformed: Out of the 50 Most Violent Cities in the World
San Salvador didn’t just drop off the world’s most violent cities list by chance—it’s the result of profound changes, from challenging security plans to decisive political action and a new approach to public safety.
Sure, there’s still work to do, but the city’s moving far from its violent past. As of today, there are no signs that the capital of El Salvador is returning to its former status—and that, for millions of Salvadorans, is a victory worth celebrating.
