The 10 countries with the highest crime rates in the world

Today, safety has become one of the key factors people weigh when choosing where to live or travel. Unfortunately, in some countries the crime rate remains critically high for a range of reasons, including economic hardship and the absence of an effective law enforcement system.

Venezuela

One of the highest crime rates in the world. Economic crisis, political instability and widespread corruption have driven a sharp rise in crime, particularly drug trafficking and robbery.

Papua New Guinea

Deep social inequality and frequent tribal conflicts fuel recurring violent crime and robbery.

South Africa

The country suffers from a very high crime rate, including robbery, rape and murder, especially in its major cities.

Honduras

Home to one of the highest homicide rates in the world, largely driven by the activity of local drug cartels and gangs.

Brazil

High crime levels are tied to drug trafficking, armed robbery and violent crime in major cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

El Salvador

A country with a high homicide rate, often linked to street gang activity and drug trafficking.

Jamaica

High levels of violent crime, including murder and robbery, are frequently driven by battles between rival gangs for control of drug routes and territory.

Guatemala

Violent crime runs high - murder, rape and assault - often as a result of local gangs and organized criminal groups.

Mexico

Despite government efforts to combat the drug cartels, violent crime, including murder, kidnapping and extortion, remains high across many regions of the country.

Colombia

Although the overall crime rate is falling thanks to government action and peace talks with insurgent groups, some regions still see high levels of violent crime and drug trafficking.

This list underscores the importance of global and regional efforts to fight crime and improve safety. These challenges demand a comprehensive approach: strengthening law enforcement, improving economic conditions and raising education levels across the population. Safety and stability are key factors that enable countries and their citizens to develop and prosper.

2026 update: how the picture has changed

Lists of the most dangerous countries date quickly, so it is better to compare intentional homicides per 100,000 people: this indicator is collected by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and depends less on how a country records theft and robbery.

What it means for moving

• National averages hide differences between cities and districts: in Mexico and Brazil violence varies greatly by state.
• Before moving, check the travel advice published by your own country's foreign ministry.
• Choose the district, not just the country: safe neighbourhoods exist even in cities with high average crime.
• Health insurance and residence with clear rights protect you better than tourist status.

If you are choosing a country to live in, compare residence programs such as Brazil residence and Mexico residence, and El Salvador citizenship.

Frequently asked questions

How do you compare countries' safety?

By intentional homicides per 100,000 people from UN data and national statistics; survey-based rankings are less reliable.

Is El Salvador still one of the most dangerous countries?

According to official data, no: homicides fell to 1.4-1.9 per 100,000 people in 2024-2025, although the counting method differs from the regional standard.

Where homicide is highest: UN data

According to the latest Global Study on Homicide by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the world had 5.8 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2021. Regional differences are huge.

That is why most countries on the list above are in Latin America and the Caribbean, where organised groups and drug trafficking drive violence most.

How to assess the safety of a specific place

• Compare national statistics for the city or state rather than the country as a whole.
• Check whether crime is rising or falling: the trend matters more than one year.
• Ask locals and landlords which districts are considered calm.
• Consider your own lifestyle: remote work from a gated residential complex and night trips across the city carry different risks.

Which region has the most homicides?

The Americas: 15 homicides per 100,000 people in 2021 according to the UN, against a world average of 5.8.

If something happens abroad

• Report to the police at once and get a copy of the report: without it insurers will not pay.
• Inform your country's consulate if your passport is lost; keep document scans in the cloud.
• Block cards and tell your bank about the trip in advance so payments are not stopped.
• Keep local emergency contacts: numbers differ by country.

Where to find official crime data?

In the country's national statistics and in the Global Study on Homicide by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

Safety and choosing a country to move to

Crime is only one factor. When moving you should also compare taxes, residence timelines and the path to a passport. Our page which second passport suits me helps choose a country for your situation.

Does crime affect the choice of residence?

Yes, but compare the city and district rather than the whole country: one country can have both dangerous and calm regions.

Should you rely on safety rankings?

Better look at official homicide data and its trend over several years: survey-based rankings often reflect perceptions rather than statistics.

Where are homicides lowest?

According to UN data for 2021, in Europe and Asia: about 2.2-2.3 per 100,000 people against 15 in the Americas.

FAQ