The Most Dangerous Cities In The World

In today's world, safety can be a significant concern, particularly in certain urban areas where high levels of violence prevail. Colima, Ciudad Obregon, and Port-au-Prince are currently the three most dangerous cities in the world, each experiencing elevated homicide and crime rates. The reasons for these extreme levels of violence vary, including territorial cartel disputes, city-wide gang activity, and widespread firearm access.

The Most Dangerous Cities In 2024 According To Homicide Rate

1. Colima, Mexico

With a staggering homicide rate of 140.32 per 100,000 people, Colima is currently the most dangerous city in the world. Three cartels, The Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and the Zetas, are largely responsible for Colima's extreme levels of violence, engaging in bloody turf wars in order to exert control over the city's fentanyl production, which has more than doubled in production since 2016. Additionally, Colima's neighboring town, Manzanillo, is a prime port city involved in numerous smuggling routes, making Colima's nearby position heavily contested by the three cartels. Due to these violent battles, for Colima's residents, street homicides have tragically become a part of daily life.

2. Ciudad Obregon, Mexico

Ranking as the second most dangerous city, Ciudad Obregón has a homicide rate of 117.18 per 100,000 people, which has increased from 2022. Similar to Colima, the high level of violence and homicides is largely due to cartel activity. The Caborca Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, and New Generation Jalisco Cartel are particularly powerful in the Sonora region, where Ciudad Obregón is located. In 2021, the homicide and violence escalated, accompanied by the murders of several minors, prompting social activists to plead for help and compelling the Mexican government to reanalyze how to reduce this bloodshed.

3. Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Port-au-Prince is the third most dangerous city in the world, reporting a homicide rate of 117.24 per 100,000 people. Gang violence is the primary contributor to the danger in Port-au-Prince, with an estimated 100 gangs controlling approximately 80% of the city. Moreover, several gangs laid siege to residential neighborhoods in early 2024 as a result of a power vacuum. With this gang violence rising to new extremes, the United Nations estimates that around 53,000 inhabitants fled the city in early 2024 in search of safer conditions. Due to corruption and politician involvement with the gangs, a solution to its danger appears distant. Youri Latortue, former Head of Senate in Haiti, for example, is currently under US sanctions due to accusations of ties with armed criminal gangs and drug trafficking.

4. Zamora, Mexico

Recording 105.13 homicides per 100,000 people last year, Zamora Mexico sits as the fourth most dangerous city in the world. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel exerts control in the city alongside a local crime group alliance known as 'United Village' or 'United Cartels.' This alliance includes Los Caballeros Templarios and Los Viagras, who are rivals of Jalisco New Generation, resulting in bloody turf wars. Citizen security specialist Lorena Cortés Villaseñor reports a rise in forced disappearances and clandestine graves in the region as well, with Zamora being part of an area known as the Triangle of Death.

5. Manzanillo, Mexico

Manzanillo registered 102.58 homicides per 100,000 people in 2023, making it the current fifth most dangerous city in the world. As previously mentioned, it is Colima's neighbor and shares many of the same underlying causes of violence. Manzanillo possesses the largest port in Mexico, with nearly 3.5 million containers arriving there annually from all over the world. Chemicals needed for synthetic drugs like fentanyl arrive from countries such as India and China in a significant number of containers, resulting in violent turf battles from both the Sinaloa and the Jalisco New Generation cartels who are eager to have control of the area.

6. Tijuana, Mexico

Tijuana is the world's sixth most dangerous city, recording 91.76 homicide rates per 100,000 people. While this is an improvement from the city's 105.15 homicide rate in 2022, violence is still a disturbingly routine part of daily life for Tijuana's inhabitants. Much of this heightened violence is due to organized crime groups from Jalisco and Sinaloa, such as Jalisco New Generation and the Tijuana Cartel, battling for control over the area's smuggling routes and local drug sales. In an attempt to combat violence, human rights activists are calling for the state to allow municipal officers to investigate homicide cases in addition to state officers, as officers are currently inundated with cases city-wide.

7. Zacatecas, Mexico

Registering 88.99 homicides per 100,000 people, Zacatecas is the seventh most dangerous city worldwide, with 81% of these homicides tied to organized crime. Due to its geographic location near several major highways, the city is a crucial hub for communication and trafficking routes used by organized crime groups and cartels. Additionally, cartels have begun establishing fentanyl factories in the city over the past few years, further increasing contention and violence. The governor in recent years has reiterated the importance of having a military presence in the city to reduce crime, stating that Zacateca's citizens feel safer in their presence. However, this military intervention has not been well received by the cartels, resulting in many morbid death threats to the governor's office.

8. Guayaquil, Ecuador

Guayaquil ranks just under Zacatecas in terms of homicide rate, with 88.82 homicides per 100,000 people. Between 2020 and 2021, cocaine production increased by nearly 33%, prompting international cartels to seek new smuggling routes between Peru and Colombia. Ecuador's strategic location paired with the inexperience of its authorities in combating drug trafficking made it an attractive option for these cartels. Guayaquil, a port city in Ecuador, became a major hub, with 90% of the country's illegal drugs being exported through shipping containers at the port. Bloody turf wars have broken out as a result in attempt to control the area. Although the government claims to be reducing the number of homicides, insecurity remains high. Organized gangs have been targeting prosecutors tasked with bringing justice, with six public prosecutors killed in less than two years.

9. Mandela Bay, South Africa

Mandela Bay, South Africa is the 9th most dangerous city in the world, with 78.33 homicides per 100,000 people. The high levels of danger in the city are primarily due to the widespread availability of firearms and a rise in gang violence. In April 2023, police found two firearm dealers to be responsible for supplying the majority of guns to city criminals. The Department of Community Safety emphasizes the importance of focusing on youth education and talking to young people in schools through summit events, paired with strengthening police visibility, to reduce future violence. However, community members remain skeptical of the government's plans, many stating they are yet to see a successful strategy.

10. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Ciudad Juarez ranks as the tenth most dangerous city in the world, with a rate of 77.43 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. As a city on the US-Mexican Border, near El Paso, Texas, Ciudad Juarez is a hotspot for migrant smuggling and trafficking. Increased demands for smuggling services in recent years have made the industry more lucrative and deadly. Organized crime groups are ever more involved in the smuggling business, resulting in violent turf wars. Synthetic drug trafficking is also a huge factor in violence in Ciudad Juarez, with strong presences from the New Juárez Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel. According to Ciudad Juarez's municipal police chief César Omar Muñoz, around 90% of the city's homicides are related to crystal methamphetamine sales.

Final Thoughts

As residents of these cities continue to face daily threats to their safety, the need for practical solutions remains of paramount concern. Although government and police institutions have promised strategic plans and action, it is too early to say whether or not officials will deliver on their promises. In the months and years to come, the resilience and determination of these communities will be tested as they strive to reclaim their neighborhoods from the grip of violence and create sustainable pathways toward peace and security.

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