The Most Dangerous Cities In The World

1. Tijuana, Mexico

Image source/The TelegraphTijuana is well known for being the most dangerous city in the world. The city is famous for its horrendous violence and poverty, as well as a staggering seven murders every day! The biggest factor for its horrendous crime rate is human trafficking and drug trades between gangs. There is no surprise this is such a dangerous city.

2. Acapulco, Mexico

Image source/InfoBaeThe once popular tourist destination has now been terrorised by poverty and violence. Similar to Tijuana, the murder rate here is through the roof at 111 per 100 thousand people. Not to mention that nearly half the inhabitants are living in poverty. The murder rate in Acapulco has continued to grow and grow over the last six years making it one of the most dangerous cities on the planet.

3. Natal, Brazil

Image source/Los Angeles Daily NewsDespite being home to some of Brazil's most spectacular beeches, the city unfortunately is one of the most dangerous in South America. Natal is so dangerous in fact that there is a 7:00 PM curfew for the safety of the residents. Robbery and theft is virtually constant, and most thieves will have no issue murdering in their pursuit.

4. Caracas, Venezuela

Image source/Venezuela AnalysisAfter being named the most dangerous capital city in the world in 2017, Caracas certainly doesn't live this title down. It is a frenzy of violence and crime, with 1 in 1000 residents murdered. The high levels of poverty and poor law and order are what allow this city to become one of the most deadly on the planet.

5. Los Cabos, Mexico

Image source/Business InsiderAny city that requires constant armed guards while you sunbathe can't be safe. According to World Atlas, Los Cabos has the highest murder rate per capita on the planet, at just under 140 per 100 thousand people - that's seven times higher than Chicago! There is no shock that the US government expresses citizens to use extreme caution when visiting.

6. Cuidad Juarez, Mexico

Image source/9NewsTourism has now vanished from the once lively city of Cuidad Juarez, and it's almost completely down to how dangerous it has become. Not only is it the worst city for women in Mexico, it is also extremely dangerous for anybody travelling there. Theft and robbery is sky-high, and tourists are recommend to travel in bullet-resistant vehicles.

7. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Image source/Swisher PostIf visiting Pietermaritzburg, make sure you're always on high alert, especially at night. The high population and small number of police officials makes the city extremely dangerous. Public transport, both during the day and night, can be swarming with criminals who won't hesitate to rob and even kill you.

8. San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Image source/Business InsiderAny city that use to be known as the "murder capital of the world" has got to be extremely dangerous - San Pedro Sula is no exception. Attacks on locals and foreigners, ranging from theft and sexual assault are very high. Make sure that whenever you can, avoid using ATM's as these are the most common form of petty theft in the city.

9. St. Louis, United States

Image source/Fox 2St. Louis has the unwanted reputation for being the deadliest city in the United States, and this title is well deserved. The city has been the most dangerous to live in by a considerable margin since the mid 2010s, and has amassed a terrifying murder rate of 88 per 100,000 people.

10. Pretoria, South Africa

Image source/Rekord EastPretoria is NOT a safe place to visit, in fact it's one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Travellers are constant targets for armed robberies and gang violence, and travelling or walking at night is almost certainly putting you at serious risk of attack. Even in groups you are far from guaranteed safety in Pretoria.

11. Celaya, Mexico

Image source/Mexico News DailyMuch like many of the cities on the list, Celaya is located in Central America and is one of the most dangerous cities on the planet. The rocketing murder rates and increase in violent crime has been reported to be largely down to efforts by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel to wipe out its main rival, the equally as violent Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel. Both sides aim is to control drug trafficking into the United States.

12. Irapuato, Mexico

Image source/A NewsIrapuato is located in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, just like Celaya. Both these cities are terrorised by the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The city has been victim to a number of mass shootings between the gangs, including when a bar was shot up, killing twelve people. Local police authorities have failed to curb the violence, resulting in it becoming one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

13. Ciudad Victoria, Mexico

Image source/Spectrum NewsIf you hadn't have realised by now, which you probably will have if you've been reading, Mexico is a pretty dangerous place to live and visit. Another city poisoned by gang warfare is Ciudad Victoria. During the height of the Gulf and Zeta Cartel war's, murder rates went from 30 to nearly 90 per 100,000 people.

14. Cancun, Mexico

Image source/The Washington PostDespite being one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mexico, with a murder rate of 65 per 100,000 people, Cancun finds itself being one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Both drug and non-drug-related criminal gang violence has increased drastically since 2018 in the city.

15. Cape Town, South Africa

Image source/The New York TimesSouth Africa consistently produces cities with shockingly high murder rates, Cape Town being one. Not only is the city rife with poverty and underdevelopment, the murder rate has grown to 66 per 100,000 people and shows no sign of slowing down. These numbers are a real shame because the city it self has some of the nicest things to see on the list.

16. Ciudad Obregon, Mexico

Image source/Borderland BeatHaving been named after Alvaro Obregon, a notable figure in the Mexican revolution, the city of Ciudad Obregon has took an honourable decline over the years. As to why there's so many murders and violent crimes, it shouldn't be too hard to guess, simply there is a war between rival criminal organizations.

17. Feria de Santana, Brazil

Image source/InsiderMuch like Mexico, Brazil is another Latin American country filled with crime. The city of Feira de Santana has a serious violent crime problem, ranking it one of the most dangerous cities in the country. With a murder rate of nearly 70 per 100,000 people, and wide spread poverty, it's no shock to see it on this list.

18. Cumana, Venezuela

Image source/Miami HeraldThe city of Cumana is a  dangerous place to live. Violence has dramatically increased over recent years as hunger spreads. Crime in prion is at an all time high and this is flooding its way onto the streets. Despite all this, the city remains to be a regional centre of commerce and regional tourism.

19. Baltimore, United States

Image source/Free BeaconSecond to only St. Louis in terms of murder rate in the U.S., Baltimore's violent crime epidemic makes it one of the most dangerous cities in the world. While it does attract many visitor's, thanks to its cuisine and art scene, violent crime is a huge issue. Visitors are generally safe, but should avoid going into the dodgy parts of town at all costs.

20. Kingston, Jamaica

Image source/Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting ProjectOne of the reasons that Kingston has become such a violent and dangerous city is down to one of the most successful organised crime organisations around. This has spiralled out of control, contributing to increasing murder rates and organised crime year on year. It's turning into a different city UB40 once sang about!

21. San Salvador, El Salvador

Image source/The ConversationThere's no wonder so many migrants are fleeing the city when it is such a dangerous place to live. The high violent crime and murder rates as of late is a huge problem in San Salvador, however the murder rate has fallen from 109 to 50 per 100,000 people. Despite the decrease, it's hardly like it's still a safe place to live.

22. Maceio, Brazil

Image source/Diario do PoderMuch like many Brazilian cities on the list, Maceio is a beautiful coastal city that has been terrorised by violent crime. While tourist are still willing to come and visit the white sandy beaches and coral reefs, they have to be constantly alert of drug gangs, not to mention a murder rate of nearly 70 per 100,000 people.

23. Durban, South Africa

Image source/BBCWhile Durban may be the third busiest and largest city in South Africa, with an abundance of tourists each year, it still makes its way on the list of most dangerous cities. Poverty is at it's peak, as well as political instability, so this is obviously going to result in high amounts of violent crime and murder.

24. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Image source/W4Violent crime and kidnapping's in Port Moresby are a daily occurrence. Similar to many other cities on this list, civil unrest and political tensions make this city so dangerous. Tourist are strongly advised to avoid travelling at night in order to avoid being held hostage, and travelling with a security escort is almost mandatory.

25. Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela

Image source/Catholic News AgencyIf you're recommended to travel in armoured vehicles, then you know the city is dangerous. Ciudad Bolivar is commonly referred to as one of the largest mega-slums in the world. Organized crime runs the city, and violence is uncontainable due to poor law and order and lack of police officials.

26. Belem, Brazil

Image source/Al JazeeraIn Belem, drug trade is rife. Poverty is high and many of the militia gangs here are made up largely of off-duty police officers. The desperate need to make money by so many people leads to the city being a hot spot for violence and murder, and any tourist caught straying into the back streets is asking for trouble.

27. Uruapan, Mexico

Image source/CNNNear enough all the murders in the city of Uruapan are gun-related - no shock there! The surge of violent crime has been a huge issue for the government and is triggered a heighten in security. However, this clearly has been unsuccessful and drug gangs continue to run riot in the city.

28. Cali, Columbia

Image source/BBCCali has hosted many regional and international sporting events and has plenty to keep visitor's entertained, however it was home to the Cali Cartel. This organised crime group ran a lucrative drug trade up until 1996, however organised crime is still as prominent as ever, as the city has a murder rate of 50 per 100,000 people.

29. Distrito Central, Honduras

Image source/UNHCRThe recent surge in urban gang violence has led to District Central becoming one fo the most dangerous cities in the world. The violence is not only contributing to a murder rate over 35 per 100,000 people, its also causing thousands to migrate into the United States for safety and refuge.

30. Aracaju, Brazil

Image source/InfonetHaving recently become a popular, low-cost vacation destination, as well as having recent investments to modernise transport links, Aracaju is still just as dangerous. Crime and murder rates are still very high, as the increase in tourism offers more easy targets to the organised crime groups.

31. New Orleans, USA

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New Orleans is an exciting place to visit due to its culture, history and the music scene - but despite being so exciting and a pull for tourists, it's actually also one of the top dangerous cities in the world - and in the US. The good news is that over the years it has become less dangerous than it once was in terms of serious crime rates (it's at the bottom of the most dangerous list, but it used to be USA's second most dangerous city at one point, after Detroit). It's a busy and lively city but you're best sticking to the safer spots!

32. Chihuahua, Mexico

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The city of Chihuahua in Mexico has a population of over 900,000, and it's a very dangerous city for those people. The city of Chihuahua is the capital of the northern Mexico state of the same name, and it's also located very close to the US-Mexican border, which also might have a contribution to why it could be a dangerous place to be. Most of the violence happening in this city is a result of gang violence, but the high danger rates have decreased a little in recent years. At once point, this city was in the top four of Mexico's most dangerous.

33. Teresina, Brazil

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The city of Teresina in Brazil is known for being both a dangerous and poor place. With the fact that residents of this city are amongst the poorest, this could also be a reason why a lot of people are pushed to a life of crime, or crime rates increasing between desperate people. In recent years, the murder rates have fluctuated - even increasing rather than decreasing - making it one of the most dangerous places to visit. When it comes to cities in Brazil, there are a fair few that make the list of the most dangerous.

34. Detroit, USA

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We mentioned Detroit when speaking about New Orleans, and it was Detroit that overtook New Orleans as the most dangerous city at one point. Detroit shuffles about a lot through the top four most dangerous places in the US. In recent years, its murder rate has been unchanged, meaning while the crime hasn't technically gotten any higher, it hasn't gotten any lower either. The only reason it's ranked higher than New Orleans for danger is because of the better measure New Orleans has taken, rather than any improvements Detroit has made.

35. Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa

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Some areas in South Africa can be a very dangerous place, including the area of Nelson Mandela Bay. Nelson Mandela Bay includes a few different areas, like the city Port Elizabeth and the areas surrounding it - all of which are considered dangerous locations. It's been ranked as the second most dangerous city in the whole of South Africa, and is located close to Durban, which is also ranked as one of the most dangerous. The two places usually have fairly similar murder rates, with Nelson Mandela Bay having around 478 murders in one year.

36. Joao Pessoa, Brazil

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Another dangerous location in Brazil that you probably won't want to visit anytime soon is Joao Pessoa. It has a large population of over 1 million people, but despite a lot of residents and its ranking as one of the most dangerous cities, its crime rates - murder rates in particular - have actually decreased in recent years. Despite its dangers, it is still a place that a lot of tourists would like to visit, and because the money from tourism is so important to this city, this could explains their big efforts to cut crime rates and make it a lot safer!

37. Guatemala City, Guatemala

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The residents of Guatemala City do have to face up to high crime rates, but the good news is that the rates of murder in this city have decreased drastically over the years. That being said, this is still ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala, and is also famous for being the site of the Mayan city Kaminaljuyu, which is also why it still attracts attention from a lot of tourists or travelers with bucket lists! This could also explain the efforts to reduce crime rates.

38. Reynosa, Mexico

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Another dangerous city in Mexico is Reynosa, which is also located by the Mexican border. In recent years, it's been ranked as the eleventh most dangerous city in the whole country of Mexico. This is mainly based on gang violence, and specifically turf wars between different groups and Mexican cartels. Reynosa is actually one of the largest cities in the state of Tamaulipas, known for where anti-cartel groups have previously operated to break apart the Gulf and Zetas cartel. This then made cartel wars even worse when everyone was fighting for turf.

39. Valencia, Venezuela

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While Valencia in Venezuela has been ranked one of the most dangerous cities, it actually didn't used to be as dangerous as it is now. Once upon a time it was the very bottom of the most dangerous cities in the world list, but it has slowly moved up the rankings. It's the third largest city in Venezuela, and one known for a lot of political and economic strife, which has inevitably led to a lot of crime. The political and economic problems actually resulted in murder rates in this city doubling at one point - although, luckily, those murder rates did eventually decline.

40. San Juan, USA

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The city of San Juan wasn't always as dangerous as it's considered to be these days, and a lot of that came from Hurricane Maria back in 2017. After the hurricane hit, many people were left in the wake of the disaster, which meant an economic struggle that inevitably led to violence. In 2017, San Juan officially became one of the most dangerous cities in the world due to the huge surge in murder rates following the hurricane. The murder rate did go down a year later when the city began to recover, but it kept its place as one of the most dangerous.

41. Recife, Brazil

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Recife in Brazil is known for a lot of positives that draw tourists in, including its entertainment scene and plenty to see and do. There's a lot of history and culture in this place, but there is also a high crime and murder rate, making Recife in Brazil rank as one of the most dangerous cities you should know about! In recent years, Recife has dropped in the rankings in terms of danger and murder rates, but it still has a long way to go! All in all, it's ranked as number eight in the country alone's most dangerous cities!

42. Manaus, Brazil

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Another dangerous city in Brazil - looking like Brazil itself is one of the most dangerous countries! - is Manaus. Manaus is an Amazonian city that has a high population in this area, and it also has a high homicide rate. In its defence, the homicide rate of Manaus has reduced in recent years, but it still remains high. A lot of the crime and murder rates come from the fact that there is drug trafficking routes which are fought over in this location. While there was once a truce between Red Command and Family of the North in this area, the truce ended when they fought in 2018 over drug trafficking routes in this area.

43. Tepic, Mexico

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Tepic in Mexico is the capital city of the Nayarit state based in the west, and it comes in as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. The biggest crime rate in this area is that of murder, also ranking it in the top ten of most dangerous cities in Mexico alone. In recent years, the high murder rate hasn't seen much change - neither higher or lower - but the reason it's dropped in the rankings a little is only because other cities have increased their own crime rates to overtake Tepic. A lot of the crime in this city comes from drug gangs.

44. Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil

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In what now seems like a competition between Brazil and Mexico on this ranking list comes another city from Brazil: Campos dos Goytacazes. The southeast area of Brazil, where this city is located, is known for its oil. It once had a much higher murder rate, that has since reduced in recent years, but nonetheless is still high enough to be ranked as one of the most dangerous cities. In fact, a few years ago, the crime rate was so high that this city alone was ranked as one of the most violent in the top ten of violent locations in Brazil.

45. Ensenada, Mexico

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Ensenada is located by the coast, and is found on the Baja Peninsula. This is one of the top six most dangerous cities in Mexico, and one of the most dangerous cities in the whole world. It's one of a few cities known for particularly violent crime. A lot of the crime in this city hasn't majorly come from cartel-related violence that a lot of other cities are known for, but in recent years this type of violence seems to be occurring more in Ensenada. Los Cabos is another city known for its violence in this location, with Ensenada overtaking it.

46. Macapa, Brazil

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Macapa is a city in Brazil that's known for its mining and lumber economy. It's located on the Amazon river, and known for being a particularly dangerous place. One of the highest crime rates in this dangerous city is homicide, and in recent years the murder rate has actually increased rather than decreased. A lot of the violence in this city stems from drug related and gang related violence, as well as the local citizens coming into altercations with the police. The violence is so noteworthy that it's been published in academic journals for Brazil.

47. Salvador, Brazil

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While the city of Salvador in Brazil is definitely one of the most dangerous in the world, there was actually a time a few years back when it was a whole lot more dangerous than it is now. The biggest crime rate in this city, located in the northeastern part of Brazil, is actually - you guessed it - high homicide rates. Despite the high crime rates - which have decreased over time - it remains a popular choice for tourists. Salvador is found close to the Bay of All Saints, which is a spot a lot of visitors want to see, so stopping off in this city is a must-do for some travelers.

48. Maturin, Venezuela

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Maturin is known for being both a vibrant city, and a city located in the oil region of Venezuela. It was placed on the 'high crime rate' map back in 2015, when it had a super high crime rate in terms of murder rate. At this time, the crime was so bad that it was ranked the second most dangerous city in the country - and the fifth most dangerous city in the world! Since it made this ranking, it has decreased in terms of murder rates and moved down instead of up, but it remains one of the most dangerous places to visit.

49. Palmira, Colombia

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Colombia itself is very well known for being a dangerous and violent place when it comes to drug cartel violence. While it remains high on the very dangerous list in terms of drug-related violence, the country as a whole has improved the numbers when it comes to death rates. That being said, the city of Palmira in Colombia is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. It comes in as one of two of the most dangerous cities in Colombia, even though the murder rate in this city has dropped in recent years. Colombia itself has seen a decrease in dangerous cities.

50. Coatzacoalcos, Mexico

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Ending with another dangerous offering from Mexico, the city of Coatzacoalcos is also ranked as one of the most dangerous spots in the world. This Mexican city has seen in a surge in violent crimes, and violent criminal activity, which could also be down to the fact that Coatzacoalcos is a port city by the water. This has seen it as a target for criminal gangs, particularly for organized crime, kidnappings and gang-related murders. With a population of over 300,000 people, this is definitely one of the most dangerous cities in the world!