Ever wondered what the most dangerous places in the world are?
While you can never really predict where danger lurks, some cities around the world have a particularly bad reputation when it comes to violence. Though violence can be expressed through various offenses, we ranked the cities in our countdown according to the number of murders per 100,000. Areas of war, where the number of deaths is understandably higher than in your average city, were not taken into account.
Let’s take a look, in a style similar to our recap of the most dangerous cities in America.
No. 10: Belém, Brazil
Murders per 100,000 people: 78
Regardless of its relative prosperity, Belém is a gateway for drug distribution and this has severely impacted the rate of violent crimes in the city.
No. 9: Durango, Mexico
Murders per 100,000 people: 79
Even though murders related to organized crime in Durango have decreased over the past few years, the overall rate is still one of the highest worldwide. Violent acts in this Mexican state have even targeted public prosecutors and elected officials.
Continue reading to discover the rest of the most dangerous places in the world:
No. 8: Chihuahua, Mexico
Public Domain Image: Public Domain
Murders per 100,000 people: 82
Drug-related murder is on the rise in Chihuahua, who also faces quite a high rate of property crimes. However, this Mexican city is still safer than what it used to be 5 years earlier.
No. 7: Torreón, Mexico
Murders per 100,000 people: 87
Though it is one the most important industrial and economical centers in Mexico, Torreón finds itself as one of the world’s most violent places. While drug trade and organized crime may not be as prolific in this Mexican city, Torreón still has one of the highest murder rates on Earth.
No. 6: Caracas, Venezuela
Murders per 100,000 people: 98
Although its murder rates are quite high, Caracas faces several other issues, including an overwhelming number of robberies per day and police corruption.
No. 5: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Murders per 100,000 people: 99
Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, is one the most dangerous places to live in. Almost 40% of all its violence acts are associated with organized crime and an overwhelming majority of victims are males; over 90% to be more exact.
No. 4: Acapulco, Mexico
Murders per 100,000 people: 128
Once a world renowned touristic spot, Acapulco is nowadays infamous for its brutal and violent crimes. It would appear that the drug trade has transformed this former vacation getaway in one of the most dangerous places on Earth.
No. 3: Maceió, Brazil
Murders per 100,000 people: 135
Given the plethora of breathtaking beaches, Maceió had all the makings of becoming a touristic hotspot. However, the extreme poverty of its residences caused for it to become one of the most dangerous places in the world.
No. 2: Juarez, Mexico
Murders per 100,000 people: 147
A border city of Mexico, Juarez has succumbed to the drug warfare, with violence being fueled by clashes between gangs. However, a glimmer of hope remains for this city, as murder rates have somewhat dropped over the past years.
No. 1: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Murders per 100,000 people: 159
San Pedro Sula’s high murder rate is sustained by drug trade, extreme corruption and poverty, as well as gang violence. However, even more worrisome is the fact that the city’s violence grew exponentially, doubling itself to be more exact, in only five years.
