World Population

Most Dangerous Cities in the World 2025

Dangerous Cities in the World
The article lists some of the deadliest places on earth, the top 10 most dangerous cities in the world in 2025 that have the highest homicide rates per 100,000 inhabitants. Mexico tops the list with nine cities in the top 10 most dangerous cities in the world by 2023 and other dangerous cities beyond top ten are in Venezuela, Columbia, South Africa, Honduras, Jamaica, Brazil, Guatemala and United States. In the era of twenty-first century, Violence and peace cannot coexist together in any area, and such criminal acts are considered potential threats to humankind. Various forms of violent criminal activities make a place dangerous for both the residents, traders and the tourists that visit the place.

By 2025, Mexico continues to be most cities almost forty-percent amongst the countries with the highest homicide rates, with the most violent cities in the world, According to Mexico stats in 2021, Zamora had a homicide case rate of 193 per 100,000 people, followed by Fresnillo with 182 per 100,000 people, and Obregón with 126 per 100,000 people, By the end of the year, 96.8 percent of Zamora and Fresnillo residents reported feeling unsafe, the highest percentage of any major city in Mexico. According to Mexico daily post, Best to avoid Mexico top dangerous cities of Fresnillo, Tijuana, Ciudad Obregón, Uruapan Del Progreso, Celaya and Ciudad Juárez, avoid as much as possible since even the people who live there are not so thrilled about their situation. These are the not good places to visit or to live in Mexico due to its terrible reputation. The highly populous mexican metro cities Tijuana and Chihuahua witnessed a homicide rate of 95 for every 100,000 inhabitants in 2021 down from 134 in 2019.

Most Dangerous Cities List

The Most Dangerous Cities in the World by 2025 are as below, derived from the list from 2019 to:

RankCityCountryHomicides(2019)Homicides (2021)Homicides (2022)Population
2020/2021(Estimates)
Homicides Per 100,000
(2020/2021)
1Fresnillo Mexico392429486240,532202.05
2Zamora Mexico294391447227,331196.63
3Ciudad Obregón Mexico281604592380,000155.77
4Los Cabos Mexico--397351,111113.00
5Ensenada Mexico275343374341,000109.67
6Tijuana Mexico2,3671,7702,1242,181,00097.39
7Irapuato Mexico723483823866,37094.99
8Ciudad Juárez Mexico1,5221,2351,4551,540,00094.48
9St. Louis United States19482264300,57687.83
10Uruapan Mexico301263259356,78672.59
11Ciudad Bolívar Venezuela189203264382,09569.09
12Fortaleza Brazil1,3651,8691,8082,687,00067.27
13Belém Brazil--1,6272,491,05265.31
14Cancún Mexico376443547848,46564.47
15Celaya Mexico262413444690,00064.35
16Kingston Jamaica6805937981,243,00064.17
17Cape Town South Africa3,0653,5322,9474,604,98664.00
18Natal Brazil645376569896,70863.45
19Cumana Venezuela--225360,43662.42
20Mossoró Brazil0189187300,61862.21
21Ciudad Guayana Venezuela462645471758,49062.10
22Salvador Brazil1,6571,8091,7892,886,69861.97
23Feira de Santana Brazil349341382624,10761.21
24Culiacan Mexico472350511856,00059.70
25León Mexico6977111,0971,849,00059.33
26Zacatecas Mexico151390214361,34759.22
27Baltimore United States348168338576,49858.60
28Morelia Mexico325408488849,05357.48
29Port Moresby Papua New Guinea--137254,20054.00
30Valencia Venezuela486485448834,00053.72
31Acapulco Mexico600445529992,00053.33
32Caracas Venezuela2,1342,3201,4172,682,80152.82
33Vitória da Conquista Brazil205161179341,12852.47
34New Orleans United States0139202390,14451.78
35Nelson Mandela Bay South Africa5536146211,213,06051.19
36Maturín Venezuela--254497,72351.03
37San Salvador El Salvador--9061,800,33650.32
38Saginaw United States--2444,05850.20
39Birmingham United States-5798197,57549.60
40Aracaju Brazil--463949,34248.77
41Memphis United States--306628,12748.70
42Cuernavaca Mexico470497436896,68848.62
43Coatzacoalcos Mexico--162335,07748.35
44Trenton United States--4090,66248.20
45Rio de Janeiro Brazil--3,2456,748,00048.09
46Palmira Colombia12487149310,60847.97
47Detroit United States273347303632,56847.90
48Macapá Brazil--233493,63447.20
49Harrisburg United States--2350,06946.70
50Manaus Brazil8781,0721,0722,302,00046.57
51Baton Rouge United States--102224,48046.50
52Campos dos Goytacazes Brazil--233503,42446.28
53Wilmington United States--3270,75045.23
54Tepic Mexico--230512,38744.89
55Riviera Beach United States--1637,60044.70
56Cali Colombia1,1768851,2412,810,00044.16
57Cleveland United States--162367,99144.02
58Guatemala City Guatemala1,4201,3991,4113,226,97443.73
59Durban South Africa1,5771,9231,7273,981,20543.38
60Rio Branco Brazil183173173413,41841.85
61Reynosa Mexico248278295711,13041.48
62João Pessoa Brazil--4601,112,30441.36
63Alexandria United States--1945,22941.30
64San Pedro Sula Honduras436624330801,25941.19
65Colima Mexico--135328,47141.10
66Monroe United States--1947,66340.30
67Maceió Brazil3473434041,025,36039.40
68Port-au-Prince Haiti--387987,31039.22
69San Juan Puerto Rico--126326,95338.57
70Guadalajara Mexico1,9324125291,385,62938.18
71Pretoria South Africa--282741,65138.00
Data updated November 2024, *- mentioned column data not available

Most dangerous cities in South Africa

South Africa is the crime capital in Africa, In 2022, around 68 people were murdered in South Africa every day steadily increased from 32 per day in 2011. There have been numerous press reports on the manipulation of crime statistics that not to record violent crime due to its highly corrupted departments. Rape, Car hijackings, House breakings, ATM cash robberies, Cash-in-transit heists and kidnappings are a common in the cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Port Elizabeth. These were not very big gangs but most of them are organised in small teams by their own due unemployment and not for drugs. Those visiting South Africa should be cautious of frequent homicides, daylight robberies, kidnappings, and carjacking. South Africa country is experiencing political changes and unable to deal with homicides, drug trafficking, cash in transit crime, robberies and violence against women. Below list shows the most dangerous cities in mexico.

RankCityHomicidesPopulation
(Estimates)
Homicides Per 100,000
1Cape Town2,9474,604,98664.00
2Nelson Mandela Bay6211,213,06051.19
3Durban1,7273,981,20543.38
4Pretoria282741,65138.00
5Johannesburg2,2235,866,55037.90

Most dangerous cities in Mexico

Mexico is located to the south of the United States, with significant geographic diversity, touching the Pacific Ocean on the west and sharing its southern boundary with Guatemala. Fresnillo is the most dangerous city in Mexico with 202 homicides per 100,000, followed by Zamora with 196.63 homicides, Ciudad Obregón with 155.77 homicides, Los Cabos with 113 homicides, Ensenada with 109.67, Tijuana with 97.39 homicides. Other cities include Irapuato, Ciudad Juárez, Uruapan, Cancún, Celaya, Culiacán, León and Zacatecas ranging from 97 homicides per 100,000 and 59 homicides per 100,000. Mexico is a popular destination for holidaying, especially for U.S. tourists, the country has many dangerous areas and cities that should be avoided. People intending to visit Mexico country for a holiday are advised to exercise vigilance and prudence. Those visiting Mexico should be cautious of homicides, robberies, kidnappings, and carjacking. Mexico country is experiencing severe political corruption with organised crime, drug traffic and violence against women. Below list shows the most dangerous cities in mexico.

RankCityHomicidesPopulation
(Estimates)
Homicides Per 100,000
1Fresnillo486240,532202.05
2Zamora447227,331196.63
3Ciudad Obregón592380,000155.77
4Los Cabos397351,111113.00
5Ensenada374341,000109.67
6Tijuana2,1242,181,00097.39
7Irapuato823866,37094.99
8Ciudad Juárez1,4551,540,00094.48
9Uruapan259356,78672.59
10Cancún547848,46564.47
11Celaya444690,00064.35
12Culiacán511856,00059.70
13León1,0971,849,00059.33
14Zacatecas214361,34759.22
15Morelia488849,05357.48
16Acapulco529992,00053.33
17Cuernavaca436896,68848.62
18Coatzacoalcos162335,07748.35
19Tepic230512,38744.89
20Reynosa295711,13041.48
21Colima135328,47141.10
22Guadalajara5291,385,62938.18
23Chihuahua4081,076,00037.92
24Mexicali4151,140,00036.40
25Ciudad Victoria124349,68835.46
26Minatitlán (Colima)109314,34834.67
27Mexico City9179,209,9449.96

Most dangerous cities in Venezuela

Crime in Venezuela is widespread, with violent crimes such as murder and kidnapping are most common, the country recorded 3,112 murders in 2021, Caracas remained the epicenter of violence in the country had a homicide case rate saw a decrease from 92 to 80 per 100,000 people from from 2016 to 2021, Ciudad Guayana, Ciudad Bolívar, Barquisimeto are the other top Venezuela crime cities.

Most dangerous cities in Caribbean Islands

Caribbean island nation of Jamaica had the highest murder rate in the region. Kingston, Montego Bay and Spanish Town experience high levels of crime and violence, especially Capital Kingston which is Kingston & St. Andrew Parish had the highest homicide rate.

Most dangerous cities in Brazil

Brazil is popular for Pristine beaches, historical monuments, and thrilling parties. Fortaleza is the most dangerous city in Brazil, and sixteenth most dangerous city in the world. Fortaleza homicide rate is 69.15 per 100,000 inhabitants and is the capital city of the Ceará state in Northeastern Brazil and is destination to its white beaches. Mossoró is the second biggest city in the Rio Grande do Norte state. Mossoró homicide rate is 62 per 100,000 inhabitants. Feira de Santana is located in the state of Bahia, and has high drug trafficking activity in the region. Feira de Santana homicide rate is 61.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, and common crimes are assault, armed robbery, muggings and drug dealing and abuse.

Most dangerous city in the world

Fresnillo is the most dangerous city in the world with 202 homicides per 100,000, followed by Zamora with second most dangerous city in the world with 196.63 homicides, Ciudad Obregón with with third most dangerous city in the world with 155.77 homicides. Fresnillo is being named the least safe place in the world. Fresnillo a mining city in central Mexico of Zacatecas state, is the Mexico’s Most Terrified City, often called "Land of no return". Fresnillo residents are overrun by violence and totally paralyzed by fear of crime, Residents feel its failure of Mexico’s government to tackle organized crime. According to recent study, the population of Fresnillo, a fearful existence is the only one they know. 96 percent of residents say they feel unsafe and living in fear, the highest percentage of any city in Mexico. Fresnillo residents are too terrified to leave the house in the night. The types of crime in Fresnillo are kidnappings, disappearing without a trace, powerful drug cartels, shootings, assaults and armed groups.

Top 10 most dangerous cities in the world

Top 10 most dangerous cities in the world are:

  1. Fresnillo, Mexico
  2. Zamora, Mexico
  3. Ciudad Obregón, Mexico
  4. Los Cabos, Mexico
  5. Ensenada, Mexico
  6. Tijuana, Mexico
  7. Irapuato, Mexicov
  8. Ciudad Juárez, Mexicov
  9. St. Louis, United States
  10. Uruapan, Mexico

References

  1. https://colombiareports.com/cali-crime-security-statistics/
  2. https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/2019-homicides-latin-america-capital/
  3. https://www.ibge.gov.br/pt/inicio.html
  4. https://www.cnbctv18.com/photos/world/most-dangerous-places-in-the-world-4-mexican-cities-have-highest-murder-rate-13663722.htm
  5. https://infosegura.org/en/
  6. https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/zamora-michoacan-was-worlds-most-violent-city-last-year/
  7. https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0302/P03022021.pdf

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