Violent Crime in Latin America’s Cities
According to 2023 data, all but one of the top 20 cities in the world with the highest homicide rate are located in the Americas. Medium and large cities in the Americas, particularly in Latin America, have been plagued by high violent crime rates, in part due to their high concentration of drug-trafficking organisations and other transnational criminal syndicates responsible for producing and transiting illicit goods to the rest of the world. Despite this common preponderance for organised crime and violence, cities in Latin America often vary in type and commonality of specific crimes, and in their transnational criminal profiles. The Violent Crime in Latin America’s Cities report (referred to here as “The Report”) attempts to establish the history, demographics, specificity, scope, and trends of violent crime in a select group of four cities in the region. The cities chosen to be studied were selected due to their prominent violent crime statistical profile, as well as their strategic significance for transnational organised crime. Geographical, demographic, and linguistic diversity was included to dilute the statistical sample and highlight trends and distinctions. The goal of the report was to detail the context and quantitative and qualitative reality of crime in different urban centres in Latin America, to help inform policy makers and analysts at all levels, and to further understanding on the topic through data and case studies.
