The Top 15 Most Violent Cities in the World

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Out of the top 15 most violent cities in the world, 13 of them are in Latin America, specifically in Mexico, Venezuela, and Brazil. This area of the world is having serious problems with the drug trade, leading to high levels of murder.

However, it’s generally the locals that are targets for violent crime rather than visitors. If you want to visit one of these cities, do your homework and take precautions. According to World Population Review, these are the most violent cities in the world. They have a high number of people per 100,000 who are murdered.

Tijuana, Mexico

Beautiful golf course in tijuana mexico
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Border towns are often rough, and this one is no exception. The cartels are alive and well in Mexico, and this is one of the cities that is hardest hit. It has 138 murders per 100,000 people.

Acapulco Juarez, Mexico

View of Acapulco, Mexico
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Out of every 100,000 people in this part of Mexico, 110.5 people are murdered. This extremely high number makes this city an unsafe place that you might want to avoid visiting.

Caracas, Venezuela

Caracas, Venezuela
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Venezuela has a lot of problems, from the economic to the violent. It has 99.98 murders for every 100,000 people. Venezuela is a beautiful country, but you might want to avoid this dangerous city.

Ciudad Victoria, Mexico

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, located in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
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Five of the top 10 violent cities in the world are in Mexico, and Ciudad Victoria is one of them. It has 86.01 murders per 100,000 people. It’s another place to steer clear of if you travel to Mexico.

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

CIUDAD JUAREZ,CHIHUAHUA-MEXICO-FEBRUARY-2020: Allusive sign of colors and drawings which in each of its letters is an icon or important character of this community.
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With 85.56 murders per 100,000 people, Ciudad Juarez is a notorious border down for its high level of violence. The drug trade has had a serious impact on this city that is just on the other side of El Paso.

Irapuato, Mexico

Irapuato, Guanajuato. Mexico; November 10, 2022. Aerial shots of the square in the municipal market of Irapuato
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This one isn’t as notorious as some of the others, but it does have a high level of murder and should be avoided when possible. Out of every 100,000 people, 81.44 are murdered there.

Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela

Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela pin on map
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Many areas of this South American country are rough right now, and this city is one of the worst. It has 78.3 murders per 100,000 people, making it a risky place to live and visit.

Natal, Brazil

Beautiful aerial image of the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
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Brazil also has a problem with cartels and large criminal organizations. Out of every 100,000, 74.67 people are murdered in this city. A beautiful country, Brazil can also be a dangerous one.

Fortaleza, Brazil

Aerial Photography of the City of Fortaleza in the State of Ceara in Brazil - Praia de Iracema
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Rio de Janeiro may be a better place to visit in Brazil, as it doesn’t even crack the top 50. Fortaleza, however, certainly does. It has 69.15 murders for every 100,000 people.

Cuidad Bolivar, Venezuela

Aerial view of suburbs of Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela
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Venezuela has a wealth of natural beauty, but it also has 60.09 murders for every 100,000 people. It’s a dangerous place to visit, and there are safer cities in the country if you want to experience Venezuela.

Cape Town, South Africa

overall aerial view of Cape Town, South Africa
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As the first city on the list outside of Latin America, this city has earned its place as one of the most dangerous places. It has 66.36 murders per 100,000, making it a place you may want to skip if you’re visiting the country.

Belem, Brazil

City of Belem do Para, north of Brazil
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Much of Brazil is in danger from the criminal gangs and cartels. This has led this city to have 65.31 murders per 100,000. It’s a stunning place that’s right on the water, but it may be better avoided.

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun beach with resorts near blue ocean.
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Cancun was once a tourist mecca, and to some extent, it still is. However, the cartels have now gotten a foothold in this festive city and have caused 64.47 murders for every 100,000.

Feira De Santana, Brazil

feira de santana, bahia, brazil - april 23, 2023: Aerial view of the city of Feira de Santana.
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Crime in Brazil, even violent crime, has become largely entrenched in its worst cities. This city has 63.29 murders per 100,000. It’s well known for its many festivals, but it’s getting to be well-known for murder as well.

St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

St. Louis, Missouri, USA downtown cityscape on the river at dusk.
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Some cities in the U.S. have gotten highly dangerous and full of gangs over the years. St. Louis now has 60.59 murders for every 100,000, the worst murder rate in the country.

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Farming and cultivations in Latin America. Portrait of middle aged hispanic farmer sitting proud in his tractor at sunset, holding the steering wheel. He looks at the camera and smiles happy.
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Picture this: you find a stack of cash. Do you pocket the unexpected windfall, or do you take the noble route and hand it in to the police?

In this scenario, a significant 47% of Americans admit they would keep the found money, assuming no one saw their stroke of luck. Interestingly, gender doesn’t play a big role, with both women (47.4%) and men (46.6%) expressing similar inclinations to be tempted by the cash.

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There are rich people around the world, but there are some areas that have more wealthy residents than others. When looking at how many millionaires there are in each country, it isn’t even remotely even.

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There are some countries where the majority of visitors love their experience. However, there are other countries that people come back from and never recommend to anyone. These countries often have circumstances that make the trip miserable so that visitors can’t wait to leave and go home.

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When it comes to cities in America, huge disparities exist. Some are doing much better financially than others. There are a lot of cities today that are struggling economically and coming up short in a few areas.

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