Statista, a leading global statistics portal, offers extensive data on various topics, including crime rates worldwide.
According to their latest report, the ranking of the most dangerous cities in the world is based on the Murder percentage per 100,000 inhabitants. This metric offers a standardized way to compare the prevalence of murders in various urban areas.
Here is the list of the 10 most dangerous cities in the world, ranked from 10 to 1:
10. Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Ciudad Juárez, adjacent to El Paso, Texas, remains a hub of cartel violence. In 2024, the murder percentage was 77.43 per 100,000. The city is an important course of drug trafficking, which feeds conflicts between rival groups. Despite military patrols and federal action, corruption and economic struggle keep the uncertainty perpetuation. The US Department of Foreign Affairs often warns travelers of increased risks in this border region.
9. Mandela Bay, South Africa
Mandela Bay, or Port Elizabeth, registered a murder percentage of 78.33 per 100,000. Widespread poverty, gang violence and easy access to illegal firearms stimulate crime. The high unemployment rate of South Africa worsens the situation, with robberies and carjackings often reported. Local initiatives and reforms of the police still have to have a significant impact on the rising violence.
8. Guayaquil, Ecuador
Guayaquil, the largest port city in Ecuador, has seen a peak of murder and reached 88.82 per 100,000. Gang-related violence has escalated, largely because of the role of the city in international drug trafficking. Prisons remain hotspots for organized crime activity, with prisoners who coordinate attacks outside. The government declared a state of emergency in response to the deteriorating security crisis.
7. Zacatecas, Mexico
Zacatecas registered 88.99 murders per 100,000 in 2025. Once known for its cultural heritage, the city is now flooded in cartel warfare between factions of the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels. Shooting and disappearances are routine, forcing many residents to flee. The federal troops have intervened, but persistent peace remains elusive.
6. Tijuana, Mexico
With 91.76 murders per 100,000, Tijuana remains one of the most violent cities in Mexico. The proximity of the American border makes it a critical drug smuggling hub. Cartel rivement, abductions and extortion are unbridled. Despite the increased presence of the police, violence continues to influence daily life, with tourists advised to remain vigilant.
5. Manzanillo, Mexico
A strategic port for drug shipments, Manzanillo saw 102.58 murders per 100,000. Violence escalated while rival groups are fighting for control over maritime smuggling routes. The high crime figures of the city influence both residents and the economy, because the shipping and tourist sectors are struggling with security problems. Federal interventions have had limited success in stabilizing the region.
4. Zamora, Mexico
Zamora, with a murder percentage of 105.13 per 100,000, remains plagued by cartel violence. The city is in Michoacán and is a battlefield for disputes about drug trafficking. The abductions and extortion have increased, so that residents constantly have fear. Although authorities have deployed security forces, cartel influence hinders the efforts of crime fighting on local institutions.
3. Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Port-au-Prince registered 117.24 murders per 100,000 in 2024. The city descended in chaos while gangs dominate the entire neighborhoods. Political instability and economic collapse fuel violence, with abductions and murders become commonplace. The Haitian government, which is struggling with a weak security device, is unable to curb escalating crime figures.
2. Ciudad Obregón, Mexico
Ciudad Obregón, with a murder percentage of 155.77 per 100,000, is confronted with cartel fights for checking drug routes. The city sees frequent murders and armed confrontations that endanger citizens. Many companies are closed due to extortion threats and the public trust in law enforcement remains low. Government activities to dismantle criminal networks have had little permanent effect.
1. Colima, Mexico
Colima, arranged as the most dangerous city worldwide in 2024, registered an alarming 181.94 murders per 100,000. Once a quiet coastal city, it has become a hotbed of cartel conflicts. The violence stems from its strategic location for Pacific Drug shipments. Armed confrontations and attacks on civil servants are common. Attempts to curb bloodshed have failed so far, which strengthens Colima’s place at the top of this grim ranking.
