As tourists visiting beautiful places during vacation or on random official trips, it is pertinent to know there are dangerous cities in the world to be cautious.
There are beautiful and safe countries to visit, boasting friendly cities such as Iceland, New Zealand, and Portugal among others.
It is, however, important to know that dangerous cities also exist due to factors like crime rates, political instability, socioeconomic conditions, and more.
With over 4,416 cities in the world, there are seemingly endless places to travel to and cultures to experience around the world.
The world’s 50 most dangerous cities are located in 11 countries including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa, the United States, and Venezuela.
Brazil has the most cities on the list with 17, followed by Mexico with 12. Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela are the only countries with cities in the top ten most dangerous cities.
Among the ten most dangerous cities in the world, Mexico has five cities, Brazil has three, and Venezuela has two.
The ten most dangerous cities in the world are discussed below:
1. Los Cabos
Los Cabos, Mexico tops the annual list of the most deadly areas of Mexico, compiled by the Citizens Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice. It is the most dangerous city in the world.
Los Cabos has a homicide rate of 111.3 per 100,000.
2. Caracas
Caracas, the capital of Venezuela is the second most dangerous city in the world. It is the deadliest city in Venezuela. It has 111.2 deaths per 100,000. Armed robbery, carjacking, mugging, and burglary are all common crimes in Caracas.
3. Acapulco
Acapulco, Mexico, has a crime rate of 104.73 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. It is the world’s third most dangerous city with high crime rates of all sorts.
4. Natal
Natal, Brazil. Natal is the topmost city for all crimes including physical and sexual assault, theft, and carjacking, in Brazil. It is the fourth most dangerous city. It has 102.6 deaths per 100,000.
5. Tijuana
Tijuana, Mexico, has 100.8 deaths per 100,000. Tijuana is the fifth most dangerous city in the world. It has become the stronghold of organised crime groups including smugglers.
6. La Paz
La Paz, Mexico is the sixth most dangerous city in the world with a crime rate of 84.79 per 100,000 residents. In La Paz, petty crimes such as pickpocketing, purse snatching, and theft of backpacks or luggage are quite common, especially in crowded areas like local markets, public transport, and tourist hotspots.
7. Fortaleza
Fortaleza, Brazil has 83.5 deaths per 100,000, and it is the seventh most dangerous city in the world. Fortleza has one of the highest rates of violence in Brazil, a factor linked to social deprivation which has been identified as hurting health-seeking behaviours.
8. Ciudad Victoria
Ciudad Victoria, Mexico has 83.3 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. It is placed as number eight of the most dangerous city in the world. Common crimes in the city include drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, and murder, and frequent shootouts and violence among drug cartels.
9. Ciudad Guayana
Ciudad Guyana, Venezuela is the second deadliest city in Venezuela and ninth in the world with 80.3 deaths per 100,000 people. The city reeks of crimes like rape, murder, and sexual assault, as a result of the activities of organised gangs and economic hardships.
10. Belem
Belem, Brazil has 71.4 deaths per 100,000 people. It is the tenth most dangerous city in the world. In Belem, petty crimes like pickpocketing, bag-snatching and opportunistic thefts are quite common, particularly in crowded places and touristy areas.