The 10 Most Dangerous Places In El Salvador in 2024, Based on Homicides

By Eddie Galdamez  | Updated on Apr 6th, 2024
Most Dangerous Places in El SalvadorSan 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 has increased in the first three months of 2024. From January 1 to March 31, the Salvadoran National Police (PCN) reported 25 homicides, which is 12 less than in the same 2023 period.

Based on homicide statistics from January to March 2024, the most dangerous places in El Salvador in 2024 are Quezaltepeque, San Vicente, Acajutla, Ahuachapan, Ilobasco, Metapan, Cuscatancingo, Zacatecoluca, San Juan Opico, and Colon.

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.

2024 Most Dangerous Places in El Salvador
Place Municipality Department Population 2024
Homicides
Homicides per 100,000
Inhabitants
1 Quezaltepeque La Libertad North La Libertad 65,605 2 3.05
2 San Vicente San Vicente South San Vicente 56,724 1 1.76
3 Acajutla Sonsonate West Sonsonate 58,442 1 1.71
4 Ahuachapan Ahuachapan Center Ahuachapan 126,730 2 1.58
5 Ilobasco Cabañas West Cabañas 69,348 1 1.44
6 Metapan Santa Ana North Santa Ana 72,173 1 1.39
7 Cuscatancingo San Salvador East San Salvador 75,767 1 1.32
8 Zacatecoluca La Paz East La Paz 83,076 1 1.20
9 San Juan Opico La Libertad Center La Libertad 90,198 1 1.11
10 Colon La Libertad West La Libertad 120,819 1 0.83

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 two 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, La Libertad North, Sonsonate West, Morazan North, San Vicente North, Cabañas East, Cuscatlan South, Cabañas West, Ahuachapan Center, and Santa Ana North.

Most Dangerous Municipalities in El Salvador in 2024
Municipality Department Population 2023
Homicides
Homicides per 100,000
Inhabitants
1 Chalatenango South Chalatenango 67,358 3 4.45
2 La Libertad North La Libertad 99,065 2 2.02
3 Sonsonate West Sonsonate 58,442 1 1.71
4 Morazan North Morazan 63,411 1 1.58
5 San Vicente North San Vicente 68,213 1 1.47
6 Cabañas East Cabañas 68,908 1 1.45
7 Cuscatlan South Cuscatlan 161,972 2 1.23
8 Cabañas West Cabañas 84,663 1 1.18
9 Ahuachapan Center Ahuachapan 180,790 2 1.11
10 Santa Ana North Santa Ana 101,775 1 0.98

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 Municipalities in El Salvador
San Salvador Night Traffic. Image source: Diario El Salvador.

Most Dangerous Places in El Salvador 2021-2023

2023 Most Dangerous Places in El Salvador
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
**Over 50,000 people. Sources: Salvadoran National Police. PNC.
2023 Most Dangerous Municipalities in El Salvador
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
2022 Most Dangerous Places in El Salvador
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
2021 Most Dangerous Places in El Salvador
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?