San Salvador, El Salvador.
Over the last few years, El Salvador has made tremendous strides in security improvement. The country has gone from one of the most dangerous in Latin America to one of the safest.
This security improvement did increase in 2024. From January 1 to December 31, 2024, the Salvadoran National Police (PCN) reported 105 homicides, which was 51 less than in 2023.
Based on homicide statistics, the most dangerous places in El Salvador in 2024 were Quezaltepeque, San Miguel, San Juan Opico, Ahuachapan, Metapan, Cuscatancingo, Colon, Zacatecoluca, Soyapango, and San Martin.
The ranking of the most dangerous places in El Salvador is determined based on the homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants in districts with a population exceeding 50,000 people.
| Place | Municipality | Department | Population | 2024 Homicides |
Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quezaltepeque | La Libertad North | La Libertad | 65,605 | 3 | 4.57 |
| 2 | San Miguel | San Miguel Center | San Miguel | 214,677 | 9 | 4.19 |
| 3 | San Juan Opico | La Libertad Center | La Libertad | 90,198 | 3 | 3.33 |
| 4 | Ahuachapan | Ahuachapan Center | Ahuachapan | 126,730 | 4 | 3.16 |
| 5 | Metapan | Santa Ana North | Santa Ana | 72,378 | 2 | 2.76 |
| 6 | Cuscatancingo | San Salvador East | San Salvador | 75,767 | 2 | 2.64 |
| 7 | Colon | La Libertad West | La Libertad | 120,819 | 3 | 2.48 |
| 8 | Zacatecoluca | La Paz east | La Paz | 83,076 | 2 | 2.41 |
| 9 | Soyapango | San Salvador East | San Salvador | 258,445 | 6 | 2.32 |
| 10 | San Martin | San Salvador East | San Salvador | 92,661 | 2 | 2.16 |
The most dangerous places in El Salvador homicide stats do not include the deaths of alleged gang members who died while in confrontation with Salvadoran security forces.
Click here to see and compare the most dangerous places in El Salvador in the previous years, 2021 to 2023.
SEE ALSO: El Salvador Homicide Rate and Days Without Homicides in El Salvador
2024 Most Dangerous Municipalities in El Salvador
The Most Dangerous Municipalities in El Salvador in 2024 are Chalatenango South, Ahuachapan South, La Libertad North, La Union North, San Miguel North, San Miguel Center, Morazan North, San Miguel West, La Libertad West, and La Paz Center.
| Municipality | Department | Population | 2024 Homicides |
Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chalatenango South | Chalatenango | 67,358 | 3 | 4.45 |
| 2 | Ahuachapan South | Ahuachapan | 114,603 | 5 | 4.36 |
| 3 | La Libertad North | La Libertad | 99,065 | 4 | 4.04 |
| 4 | La Union North | La Union | 107,690 | 4 | 3.71 |
| 5 | San Miguel North | San Miguel | 81,520 | 3 | 3.68 |
| 6 | San Miguel Center | San Miguel | 280,635 | 9 | 3.21 |
| 7 | Morazan North | Morazan | 63,411 | 2 | 3.15 |
| 8 | San Miguel West | San Miguel | 102,016 | 3 | 2.94 |
| 9 | La Libertad West | La Libertad | 180,850 | 5 | 2.76 |
| 10 | La Paz Center | La Paz | 129,767 | 3 | 2.31 |
Most Dangerous Places in El Salvador
The most dangerous places in El Salvador change every year. Also, just because a particular location has a low homicide rate does not make it safe for tourists to visit. It is essential to use common sense while venturing into these areas.
SEE ALSO: Is El Salvador Safe to Visit? A Comprehensive Safety Guide for Travelers
Most Dangerous Places in El Salvador 2021-2023
| Place | Municipality | Department | Population | 2023 Homicides |
Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Vicente | San Vicente South | San Vicente | 56,724 | 6 | 10.58 |
| 2 | Acajutla | Sonsonate West | Sonsonate | 58,442 | 4 | 6.84 |
| 3 | Cuscatancingo | San Salvador East | San Salvador | 75,767 | 4 | 5.28 |
| 4 | San Salvador | San Salvador Center | San Salvador | 335,070 | 14 | 4.18 |
| 5 | Santa Ana | Santa Ana Center | Santa Ana | 250,318 | 9 | 3.60 |
| 6 | San Juan Opico | La Libertad Center | la Libertad | 90,189 | 3 | 3.33 |
| 7 | Quezaltepeque | La Libertad North | La Libertad | 65,605 | 2 | 3.05 |
| 8 | Usulutan | Usulutan East | Usulutan | 71,300 | 2 | 2.81 |
| 9 | Ciudad Arce | La Libertad Center | La Libertad | 72,378 | 2 | 2.76 |
| 10 | Soyapango | San Salvador East | San Salvador | 258,445 | 7 | 2.71 |
| Municipality | Department | Population | 2023 Homicides |
Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Union South | La Union | 120,969 | 10 | 8.27 |
| 2 | Cabañas East | Cabañas | 68,908 | 5 | 7.26 |
| 3 | Sonsonate West | Sonsonate | 58,442 | 4 | 6.84 |
| 4 | San Vicente South | San Vicente | 106,480 | 7 | 6.57 |
| 5 | San Miguel West | San Miguel | 102,016 | 5 | 4.90 |
| 6 | Usulutan East | Usulutan | 159,251 | 7 | 4.40 |
| 7 | Ahuachapan North | Ahuachapan | 72,418 | 3 | 4.14 |
| 8 | Chalatenango Center | Chalatenango | 83,077 | 3 | 3.61 |
| 9 | Santa Ana Center | Santa Ana | 250,318 | 9 | 3.60 |
| 10 | Ahuachapan South | Ahuachapan | 114,603 | 4 | 3.49 |
| Municipality Department |
Population | 2022 Homicides |
Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Izalco Sonsonate |
86,085 | 19 | 22.07 |
| 2 | Nahuizalco Sonsonate |
59,245 | 12 | 20.25 |
| 3 | Quezaltepeque La Libertad |
65,573 | 9 | 13.73 |
| 4 | Ciudad Delgado San Salvador |
123,258 | 15 | 12.17 |
| 5 | San Miguel San Miguel |
215,597 | 26 | 12.06 |
| 6 | Ahuachapan Ahuachapan |
125,544 | 15 | 11.95 |
| 7 | Santa Ana Santa Ana |
251,095 | 30 | 11.95 |
| 8 | Ilobasco Cabañas |
69,096 | 8 | 11.58 |
| 9 | La Libertad La Libertad |
53,324 | 6 | 11.25 |
| 10 | Colon La Libertad |
120,088 | 12 | 9.99 |
| Place | Population | 2021 Homicides |
Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ciudad Delgado San Salvador |
123,258 | 45 | 36.6 |
| 2 | Apopa San Salvador |
155,466 | 43 | 27.6 |
| 3 | San Salvador San Salvador |
335,982 | 91 | 27.0 |
| 4 | Colon La Libertad |
120,088 | 26 | 21.8 |
| 5 | Ilopango San Salvador |
119,327 | 21 | 17.6 |
| 6 | Mejicanos San Salvador |
135,556 | 24 | 17.6 |
| 7 | Ahuachapan Ahuachapan |
124,421 | 20 | 16.1 |
| 8 | San Miguel San Miguel |
216,800 | 26 | 12.0 |
| 9 | Santa Ana Santa Ana |
251,095 | 29 | 11.5 |
| 10 | Tonacatepeque San Salvador |
103,096 | 9 | 8.7 |
SEE ALSO: El Salvador’s Challenges and Concerns: What Concerns Salvadorans the Most?
