Violence and other criminal activities make a city dangerous for residents and tourists. Although numerous people find crime shows thrilling on large screens, crime is not something to joke about in real life. The most dangerous cities in the world are known for high crime rates that make them unsafe for locals and visitors.

The most dangerous cities in the world have numerous cases of theft, murder, property vandalisation, and other crimes. The high number of criminal activities affects their economies and people's social lives.

Most dangerous cities in the world in 2023

Different urban areas in the world face different issues. Even so, some towns and cities are more dangerous than others. Here is a list of the top 50 most dangerous cities in the world in 2023, ranked based on homicide rates.

50. New Orleans, United States of America - 30 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 37
• Population: 376,971

New Orleans is one of the most dangerous cities in America. The Big Easy killings were the city's leading cause of death until 2018. At the moment, the murder rate is about 37 per 100,000 people.

49. Chihuahua, Mexico - 38 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 38
• Population: 878,062

Chihuahua City has been ranked as one of the most violent cities in the world. Cases of gang violence are quite high. The rate stands at 30 murders per 100,000 residents. The urban area is located about 150 miles from the Mexican-American border and is Mexico's fourth most dangerous city.

48. Teresina, Brazil - 38 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 38
• Population: 868,075

Teresina is located in Brazil's northeastern region and is known for its scenic national parks. Even so, it is one of the poorest urban areas in the country. At the moment, the homicide rate stands at 38 murders per 100,000 residents.

47. Durban, South Africa - 39 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 39
• Population: 3.721 million

Durban is an eastern coastal South African city and is one of the most dangerous cities in SA. The homicide rate was 39 murders per 100,000 residents as of 2018.

46. Detroit, United States of America - 39 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 39
• Population: 632,464

Detroit is the largest city in the midwestern state of Michigan. It is best known as the birthplace of Motown Records. The city's homicide rate is 39 per 100,000 people.

45. Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa - 39 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 39
• Population: 1,296,000

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is one of eight metropolitan municipalities in South Africa. It is located on the shores of Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape Province. The urban area's homicide rate is 39 per 100,000 people.

44. João Pessoa, Brazil - 41 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 41
• Population: 817,511

João Pessoa is a coastal city near Paraíba River in eastern Brazil. It is known for its baroque and art nouveau architecture. It is one of the most violent cities in the world, with a homicide rate of 41 per 100k people.

43. Reynosa, Mexico - 41 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 41
• Population: 704,767

Reynosa is a border city in the northern part of the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. The Mexican anti-cartel was successful in dismantling the Gulf and Zetas cartels. Even though this was a significant step in curbing drug trafficking, the crime rate is still high.

42. San Juan, United States of America - 42 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 42
• Population: 342,259

San Juan joined the list of the most dangerous cities globally after Hurricane Maria in 2017. The homicide rate spiked after the storm. In addition to the increased crime and killings rates, the city has also been struggling with economic crises.

41. Distrito Central, Honduras - 43 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 43
• Population: 2,257,000

Distrito Central, Honduras, is formed by the old municipalities of Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela, and it covers an area of ​​1,502 km². It is the most violent-wreaked of the three Northern Triangle countries of Central America. Its homicide rate is 43 per 100k people, and many other crimes in the area have made people flee to the USA.

40. Guatemala City, Guatemala - 44 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 44
• Population: 995,393

Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala, in Central America. It is known for its colonial paintings and religious carvings. The homicide rate is 44 per 100k people, and many other crimes have been recorded in this urban area.

39. Valencia, Venezuela - 44 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 44
• Population: 888,109

Valencia is the capital city of Carabobo State and the third-largest city in Venezuela. It was one of the safest cities globally until the political and economic situation in Venezuela worsened. Today, the homicide rate is about 44 per 100k people.

38. Recife, Brazil - 44 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 44
• Population: 4,264,000

Recife is the capital of Brazil’s northeastern state of Pernambuco. It is known for its many rivers, bridges, islets, and peninsulas. It is also known for its dynamic cultural and entertainment scene and burgeoning regional technology hub. Even so, the crime rate is quite high, and the homicide rate is 44 per 100k people.

37. Manaus, Brazil - 44 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 44
• Population: 2.02 million

Manaus is located on the banks of a river in northwestern Brazil. The Família do Norte was particularly famed for causing chaos in Manaus until 2018. The homicide rate is 44 per 100k people.

36. Salvador, Brazil - 44 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 44
• Population: 4,297,854

Salvador is the capital of Brazil’s northeastern state of Bahia and is a popular tourist destination. Over the last three consecutive years, the city has experienced a significant decline in the murder rate from 51 to 44 murders per 100k people.

35. Tepic, Mexico - 45 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 45
• Population: 581,000

Tepic is the capital of Nayarit state in western Mexico. Over the past few years, Tepic has experienced a sharp increase in gun-related killings. There has also been a regional rise in clashes between rival drug gangs, and the homicide rate is at 45 per 100k people.

34. Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil - 46 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 46
• Population: 511,168

Campos dos Goytacazes has an area of 4,032 square kilometres, making it the largest municipality in the state by area in Brazil. The country has had an inordinate share of violent crime over the last several decades. Campos dos Goytacazes is one of the most affected cities, with a homicide rate of 46 per 100k people.

33. Ensenada, Mexico - 47 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 47
• Population: 443,807

Ensenada is the fourth-largest municipality in Mexico, with a land area of 19,526.8 square kilometres. It is one of six Mexican cities with an increase in violent crime. The homicide rate is 47 per 100k people.

32. San Pedro Sula, Honduras - 47 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 47
• Population: 719,064

San Pedro Sula is a city in the Sula Valley of northern Honduras. It is known as one of the country’s main transport hubs. In 2013, the city was ranked as the murder capital of the world. The killing rate was a staggering 187 murders per 100,000 residents. The rate has dropped to 47 per 100k people.

31. Celaya, Mexico - 47 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 47
• Population: 699,000

Celaya is located in the southeast quadrant of Mexico. It has recently emerged as a hot zone for violent crime. The homicide rate is 47 per 100k persons.

30. Cali, Colombia - 47 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 47
• Population: 2.228 million

Cali is a Colombian city in the Valle del Cauca department, southwest of Bogotá. It is one of the most dangerous cities globally due to the recent increase in Guanajuato state's violent criminal gang activity. The homicide rate is 47 per 100k people.

29. Macapá, Brazil - 47 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 47
• Population: 512,902

Macapá is the capital of Amapá state in Brazil's North Region. It is on a small plateau on the Amazon in the southeast of the state of Amapá. The leading causes of violence in the town are interpersonal violence, drug-gang activities, and conflicts between the police and locals. The homicide rate is 47 per 100k people.

28. Maturín, Venezuela - 47 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 47
• Population: 571,276

Maturín is the capital of the Venezuelan state of Monagas. It is known as a centre for instrumental exploration and development of the country's petroleum industry. The homicide rate is 47 per 100k people.

27. Palmira, Colombia - 47 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 47
• Population: 312,519

Palmira is a city and municipality in southwestern Colombia in the Valle del Cauca Department. It is the second largest city in the Valle del Cauca, behind Cali. Recently, the city has been ravaged by unending terrorist violence and civil wars from drug cartels. The homicide rate is 47 per 100,000 persons.

26. Coatzacoalcos, Mexico - 48 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 48
• Population: 319,187

Coatzacoalcos is a major port city in the southern part of the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city has experienced a rise in violent criminal activities in recent years. Organised criminal gangs have increased their activities, including kidnapping and drugging. The homicide rate is 48 per 100,000 persons.

25. Aracaju, Brazil - 49 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 49
• Population: 664,908

Aracaju is the most popular coastal getaway in Brazil. It is also the smallest state in the country. One of its highest murder rates was experienced in 2016 at 63 murders per 100,000 residents. It has reduced to 49 murders per 100,000 persons.

24. San Salvador, El Salvador - 50 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 50
• Population: 238,244

San Salvador is the capital and the largest city of El Salvador. It is the country's political, cultural, educational and financial centre. Its homicide rate is 50 per 100k persons.

23. Baltimore, United States of America - 51 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 51
• Population: 576,498

Baltimore is a major city in Maryland with a long history as an important seaport. It is the second most dangerous city in the United States. Its homicide rate is 51 per 100k persons.

22. Vitória da Conquista, Brazil - 51 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 51
• Population: 341,128

Vitória da Conquista is a municipality and the third-largest city in the state of Bahia. The city is the inland commercial centre of Bahia State. The town has experienced heightened security in recent years, hence the decrease in the murder rate from 70.3 murders to 51 per 100,000 residents.

21. Maceió, Brazil - 51 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 51
• Population: 1.025 million

Maceió city is located between the coastal towns of Recife and Aracaju, each on this list of the world's most dangerous cities. Recently, the murder rate fell from 64 to 51 murders per 100,000 residents.

20. Ciudad Obregón, Mexico - 52 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 52
• Population: 433,050

Ciudad first appeared on the list of the most dangerous cities in the world in 2014, with a murder rate of 37.7 criminals per 100,000 residents. Later, the city was faced with local rival drug-gang violence, which increased the murder rate to 52 murders per 100,000 residents.

19. Kingston, Jamaica - 54 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 54
• Population: 1.243 million

Kingston is the capital of the island of Jamaica, lying on its southeast coast. Organised crime is pretty high in this city, and the murder rate has been increasing steadily over the years. The homicide rate stands at 54 per 100k individuals.

18. Uruapan, Mexico - 55 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 55
• Population: 356,786

Since 2013, there has been an increase in violent crime, especially gun-related killings, in Uruapan, Mexico. Recently, the governor of Michoacán state promised to increase police presence to heighten security in the city. The homicide rate is 55 per 100k people.

17. Barquisimeto, Venezuela - 57 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 57
• Population: 881,127

Barquisimeto's murder rate rose from 8.2 per 100,000 residents in 2017 to 57 per 100,000 residents in 2018. The city has a total population of slightly over 1.2 million, and the homicide rate is 57 per 100k people.

16. Culiacán, Mexico - 61 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 61
• Population: 889,000

Culiacán is a city in northwestern Mexico. It is the capital and largest city of both Culiacán Municipality and the state of Sinaloa. Culiacan has always been known to have a long history of drug cartel activities. It also struggles to contain drug-gang gun violence. The homicide rate is 61 per 100k people.

15. St. Louis, United States of America - 61 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 61
• Population: 293,310

St. Louis is a major city in Missouri along the Mississippi River. It is another murder capital in the world. The rate of killings in the city has declined from nearly 66 per 100,000 in 2017 to 61 per 100,000 residents.

14. Feira de Santana, Brazil - 63 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 63
• Population: 619,609

Feira de Santana is a city in Bahia, Brazil. It is the second-most populous city in the state. The city is a major commercial centre. As a result, it is an ideal conduit for regional drug trafficking and other crimes. The homicide rate has increased from 58.8 per 100k persons in 2007 to 63 per 100k people.

13. Cancún, Mexico - 64 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 64
• Population: 888,797

Cancún is a Mexican city on the Yucatán Peninsula bordering the Caribbean Sea. It is known for its beaches, numerous resorts, and nightlife. It is a popular tourist destination. In 2018, the city experienced mind-blowing killing rates. Drug and non-drug-related criminal gang violence is high, and the homicide rate is 64 per 100k persons.

12. Belém, Brazil - 65 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 65
• Population: 2,280,000

Belém is the capital and largest city of the state of Pará in north Brazil. In the last few years, there has been a sharp increase in the murder rate. The homicide rate is 65 per 100k people.

11. Cape Town, South Africa - 66 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 66
• Population: 4.618 million

Cape Town is a port city on South Africa’s southwest coast. In 2018, the murder rate increased from 65.5 to 66 murders per 100,000 residents. The crime rate has been increasing in the past three years, and the homicide rate is 66 per 100k persons.

10. Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela - 69 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 69
• Population: 407,452

Did you know Ciudad Bolívar was formerly known as Angostura and St. Thomas de Guyana? For a very long time now, Venezuela has been the leading nation in the murder rate by country. Ciudad Bolívar has a homicide rate of 69 per 100k persons.

9. Fortaleza, Brazil - 69 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 69
• Population: 2.687 million

Fortaleza is the capital of the northeastern Brazilian state of Ceará. The murder rate has dropped from 83.5 to 69 per 100,000 residents, which is still high.

8. Natal, Brazil - 75 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 75
• Population: 890,480

Natal is the capital city of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Over the last few years, the crime rate has declined from 103 to 75 per 100,000 residents. Natal has been the country's murder capital for several consecutive years.

7. Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela - 78 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 78
• Population: 877,547

Ciudad Guayana is a port city on the Orinoco and Caroní rivers in Bolívar state, Venezuela. It has experienced a drop in the homicide rate from 80.3 to 78 per 100,000 people. Amid the high crime rate, the city also suffers from food scarcity.

6. Irapuato, Mexico - 81 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 81
• Population: 468,000

Irapuato is a Mexican city located at the foot of Arandas Hill. It is famous for its scenic gardens, which are a significant tourist attraction. It debuted on this list at number six with a high murder rate of 81 per 100,000 residents. Some of the criminal activities in the city include extortion and kidnappings.

5. Ciudad Juárez, Mexico - 86 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 86
• Population: 1.5 million

Ciudad Juárez is a Mexican city on the Rio Grande. The city has experienced a sharp rise in the murder rate since 2018. Juarez Mexico's crime rate (homicide) increased from 56.2 to 86 murders per 100,000 people.

4. Ciudad Victoria, Mexico - 86 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 86
• Population: 332,100

Ciudad Victoria is the capital of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. In recent years, the city has been wrecked by turf wars. It has experienced offshoot gangs splitting off from the Gulf and Zeta Cartels. In the earlier years, the city had a murder rate of 30 per 100,000, but with the war, it escalated to 86 murders in every 100,000 persons.

3. Caracas, Venezuela - 100 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 100
• Population: 2.082 million

Caracas is Venezuela's capital and a commercial and cultural centre located in a northern mountain valley. Venezuela has the highest number of killings, and over 90 per cent of them go unpunished. Caracas' homicide rate is 100 per 100k persons.

2. Acapulco, Mexico - 111 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 111
• Population: 779,566

Acapulco is a beach resort town on Mexico's Pacific coast. It is one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico in 2023. For the last several years, the homicide rate has been about 111 per 100k persons.

1. Tijuana, Mexico - 138 killings per 100k people

• Homicides per 100,000: 138
• Population: 2,297,216

Tijuana, Mexico, is arguably the most dangerous city in the world in 2023. It is a border city in Mexico, just south of California. Its homicide rate is 138 killings per 100k persons.

What are the top 10 highest crime rate countries?

The countries with the highest crime rates in 2023 are listed below.

• Venezuela
• Papua New Guinea
• South Africa
• Afghanistan
• Honduras
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Guyana
• El Salvador
• Brazil
• Jamaica

Which city has the highest crime rate in the world?

Tijuana in Mexico has the most dangerous city in the world in 2023. Its homicide rate is 138 killings per 100k persons.

What are the 10 worst cities for crime?

The ten worst cities for crime are Tijuana in Mexico, Acapulco in Mexico, Caracas in Venezuela, Ciudad Victoria in Mexico, Ciudad Juárez in Mexico, Irapuato in Mexico, Ciudad Guayana in Venezuela, Natal in Brazil, Fortaleza in Brazil, and Ciudad Bolívar in Venezuela.

The most dangerous cities in the world have mind-boggling crime stats in 2023. These cities are plagued by multiple forms of criminal activities.

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