City of 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—if not the safest.
According to homicide information released by the Salvadoran National Police’s (PCN) X social media account, the most dangerous places in El Salvador in 2026 are Metapan, Zacatecoluca, San Vicente, San Marcos, Santa Ana, Usulutan, Ciudad Arce, Chalchuapa, San Miguel, and Ilopango.
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.
| District | Municipality | Department | Population | 2026 Homicides | Rate per 100,000 Inhabitants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metapan | Santa Ana North | Santa Ana | 72,378 | 2 | 2.76 |
| 2 | Zacatecoluca | La Paz East | La Paz | 83,076 | 2 | 2.41 |
| 3 | San Vicente | San Vicente South | San Vicente | 56,663 | 1 | 1.76 |
| 4 | San Marcos | San Salvador South | San Salvador | 59,962 | 1 | 1.67 |
| 5 | Santa Ana | Santa Ana Center | Santa Ana | 250,318 | 4 | 1.60 |
| 6 | Usulutan | Usulutan East | Usulutan | 71,300 | 1 | 1.40 |
| 7 | Ciudad Arce | La Libertad Center | La Libertad | 72,173 | 1 | 1.39 |
| 8 | Chalchuapa | Santa Ana West | Santa Ana | 76,769 | 1 | 1.30 |
| 9 | San Miguel | San Miguel Center | San Miguel | 214,677 | 2 | 0.93 |
| 10 | Ilopango | San Salvador Est | San Salvador | 119,555 | 1 | 0.84 |
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.
The country’s homicide figures and days without murders may change once the Salvadoran Government releases its final tally. The current homicide rates are based on data provided by the Salvadoran National Police via its official X social media account.
Click here to see and compare the most dangerous places in El Salvador in the previous years, 2021 to 2025.
2026 Most Dangerous Municipalities in El Salvador
The most dangerous municipalities in El Salvador in 2026 are Santa Ana North, Usulutan East, La Paz East, Santa Ana Center, Chalatenango South, Santa Ana East, Cabañas East, Santa Ana West, Ahuachapan North, and San Salvador North.
| Municipality | Department | Population | 2026 Homicides | Rate per 100,000 Inhabitants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Ana North | Santa Ana | 101,775 | 2 | 1.97 |
| 2 | Usulutan East | Usulutan | 159,251 | 3 | 1.88 |
| 3 | La Paz East | La Paz | 112,099 | 2 | 1.78 |
| 4 | Santa Ana Center | Santa Ana | 250,318 | 4 | 1.60 |
| 5 | Chalatenango South | Chalatenango | 67,358 | 1 | 1.48 |
| 6 | Santa Ana East | Santa Ana | 67,385 | 1 | 1.48 |
| 7 | Cabañas East | Cabañas | 68,908 | 1 | 1.45 |
| 8 | Santa Ana West | Santa Ana | 141,030 | 2 | 1.42 |
| 9 | Ahuachapan North | Ahuachapan | 72,418 | 1 | 1.38 |
| 10 | San Salvador North | San Salvador | 75,285 | 1 | 1.33 |
A low homicide rate does not necessarily mean a city or place is completely safe for locals or tourists. Crimes such as theft, robbery, assault, and fraud can still occur despite fewer homicides.
Nevertheless, Salvadorans have widely welcomed the country’s security improvements. After decades of gang violence and high homicide rates, many people now feel safer using public spaces, traveling, and participating in community activities.
Click here to see and compare the most dangerous municipalities in El Salvador in the previous years, 2021 to 2025.
Most Dangerous Places in El Salvador 2021-2025
2025 Most Dangerous Places in El Salvador
| District | Municipality | Department | Population | 2025 Homicides | Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acajutla | Sonsonate West | Sonsonate | 58,442 | 2 | 3.42 |
| 2 | Usulutan | Usulutan East | Usulutan | 71,300 | 2 | 2.81 |
| 3 | San Miguel | San Miguel Center | San Miguel | 214,677 | 6 | 2.79 |
| 4 | Metapan | Santa Ana North | Santa Ana | 72,378 | 2 | 2.76 |
| 5 | Apopa | San Salvador West | San Salvador | 155,219 | 3 | 1.93 |
| 6 | La Libertad | La Libertad Coast | La Libertad | 53,726 | 1 | 1.86 |
| 7 | Cojutepeque | Cuscatlan South | Cuscatlan | 54,969 | 1 | 1.82 |
| 8 | San Pedro Perulapan | Cuscatlan North | Cuscatlan | 56,724 | 1 | 1.76 |
| 9 | San Marcos | San Salvador South | San Salvador | 59,962 | 1 | 1.67 |
| 10 | Ciudad Delgado | San Salvador Center | San Salvador | 123,429 | 2 | 1.62 |
| Municipality | Department | Population | 2025 Homicides | Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Union North | La Union | 107,690 | 5 | 4.64 |
| 2 | Sonsonate West | Sonsonate | 58,442 | 2 | 3.42 |
| 3 | Santa Ana North | Santa Ana | 101,775 | 3 | 2.95 |
| 4 | Cabañas East | Cabañas | 68,908 | 2 | 2.90 |
| 5 | San Miguel Center | San Miguel | 280,635 | 7 | 2.49 |
| 6 | La Libertad West | La Libertad | 180,850 | 4 | 2.21 |
| 7 | La Libertad Coast | La Libertad | 103,551 | 2 | 1.93 |
| 8 | Cuscatlan North | Cuscattlan | 105,825 | 2 | 1.89 |
| 9 | La Paz East | La Paz | 112,099 | 2 | 1.78 |
| 10 | La Libertad East | La Libertad | 115,828 | 2 | 1.73 |
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 | 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 |
| 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 |
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 |
| 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 |
