El Salvador has emerged as the safest country in the region, concluding 2023 with fewer than 200 homicides—a stark contrast to its neighbors, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras, which reported between 900 to 2,500 deaths due to violence.
Notably, El Salvador recorded 247 days without homicides in the year and registered less than 200 homicides in total. Projections indicated a historic low homicide rate between 1.9 to 2.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.
This turnaround marks a significant shift for El Salvador, once the most violent country. Conversely, Costa Rica, known for its low insecurity, saw a spike in violence with 907 homicides in 2023, attributed to drug traffickers and organized crime.
Guatemala and Honduras faced even grimmer statistics, tallying over 5,000 homicides combined by the year’s end. Guatemala reported 2,976 homicides, with gang-related insecurity affecting businesses and leading to closures.
Honduras, implementing a state of emergency akin to El Salvador, recorded 2,987 homicides, a notable decrease from 2022.
El Salvador’s success in reducing violence has garnered interest from other nations, with Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Honduras, and Panama considering adopting similar security strategies.
El Salvador’s journey from the most insecure to the safest country in Central America is exemplified by 517 days free of homicidal violence during President Nayib Bukele’s tenure.
As the year closed, Panama reported 544 murders, Belize awaited updated data, and Nicaragua lacked consolidated homicide figures. El Salvador’s achievements highlight the potential for transformative security measures in the region.