Crime exists in every country, no matter how strict the laws are or how thriving its economy is. But when you combine other aspects, such as corruption, poverty, racial tension, and more, some cities suffer more than others when it comes to crime.
Here are 18 cities with some of the world’s highest crime rates.
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Pietermaritzburg, located in South Africa, experiences some of the highest crime rates in any city worldwide. 2023 alone saw an abundance of mass shootings and homicides, among other violent crimes.
Pretoria, South Africa
South Africa is no stranger to danger and violent crime, so there shouldn’t be any surprise that it has multiple cities on the list. Pretoria, a northern city in South Africa,
Caracas, Venezuela
Corruption, poor regulations of gun laws, and an ineffective judiciary system mean that Venezuela has some of the highest homicide rates in the world. In addition, its oil reserves, some of the largest in the world, only breed more complications and criminal activity facilitated by greed and corruption.
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea, in particular, displays regressive views towards women, with around two-thirds of women suffering from cases of domestic violence in this Oceania country. Political violence is also rife in Papua New Guinea.
Johannesburg, South Africa
As a city once built on gold, it’s a shame that Johannesburg’s social and political landscape doesn’t isn’t also mirrored by wealth or opportunity. With a governance crisis, corruption in abundance, poor infrastructure, sky-high unemployment rates, and poverty, it’s no wonder that Johannesburg is suffering from a crisis of crime.
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
According to Human Rights Watch, Honduras is one of the most violent countries in the world, with San Pedro Sula in particular among the most violent cities in the country alongside Tegucigalpa. While San Pedro Sula is often labeled as the “murder capital of the world,” it is often attributed to gang violence rather than unprovoked attacks.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is renowned for its crime despite being a popular tourist spot. With a beautiful landscape, sapphire-esque waters, and the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio suffers from a significant wealth disparity, leading to a significant crime rate. This may come in the form of gang violence and initiations or thievery among tourists and the wealthier demographics.
Memphis, TN, United States
Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, and the city will see its highest levels of crime ever in 2023. Violent crime increased by 7% in Memphis in 2023, with gang crime and a significant reduction of federal funding to the Memphis Police Department being influencing factors.
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Located in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago are picturesque islands. But, with the high threat of pirates and terrorist attacks (particularly against UK nationals), Trinidad and Tobago is far from perfect. The threat of gang-related attacks and shootings is prevalent in Port of Spain, and visitors should exercise great caution.
Baltimore, MD, United States
Baltimore, Maryland, is renowned for its high crime rates. Reports suggest that violent crime is rising as much as 80% in certain neighborhoods in Baltimore. Residents of Baltimore often complain about the lack of police presence in public, which is exploited by criminals, creating an unsafe environment for locals.
Detroit, MI, United States
In 2021, Detroit had one of the highest murder rates in the US. The George Floyd riots created further unease and distrust between residents and law enforcement. But, while it has struggled with having crime rates much higher than the national average, there are signs of improvement. Detroit saw the fewest amount of homicides in 57 years in 2023, and this may be attributed to the money it had invested into community-based programs working to reduce gun violence.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is another place that is frequented by tourists who want to embrace its stunning mountains, diverse culinary palette, and dreamy coastline. However, tourists and travelers are often cautioned when arriving in Cape Town due to the city’s problems with homicides, carjacking, and ‘smash and grab’ attacks. Its dark history of colonization and apartheid has created an unstable environment due to the historical differences between the demographics.
Alice Springs, Australia
As the only Australian city on the list, Alice Springs is troubled with gang crime and violence. Youth crime, street gangs, alcohol-related crimes, thefts, and sexual assaults are particularly high afflicts this northern Australian town, making it statistically the most dangerous place in the country.
Tijuana, Mexico
Tijuana, Mexico, is rife with gang violence and homicide. The cartels, in particular, are responsible for many homicides and gang-related violence. With a profound influence on many industries, the media, and politics, the Cartel’s organized crime city makes Tijuana one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Yet, many can argue that crime is confined to organized criminal activity and that travelers are typically safe should they keep their wits about them.
Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
With a murder rate of 85.56 per 100,000 people, Ciudad Juarez is another Mexican city afflicted by organized crime, drug crime, and even femicide.
Cali, Colombia
Cali has the highest rates of homicide in Colombia, a country that is renowned for its organized crime and drug trafficking. Cali has higher rates of homicide than other Colombian cities, such as Medellin, which was once renowned for its drug cartels and is now known for its sex and drug tourism.
Albuquerque, NM, United States
Famous for being the setting of Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad, Albuquerque also has high crime rates compared to the national average. A resident’s chances of falling victim to property crime (such as theft, vandalism, or burglary) are as high as 1 in 20.
Lima, Peru
As the capital of Peru, Lima is suffering from significant crimes such as theft, mugging, and robberies. In 2022, it was discovered that half or more of homicide cases were contract killings as a result of corruption and organized crime.
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