El Salvador has marked a significant achievement in its efforts to combat crime, with a historic reduction in violent crimes during 2024. According to official reports, the country saw a remarkable drop of more than 40% in crimes involving direct threats or violence, which includes robbery, theft, injury, extortion, and sexual assault.
Minister of Security Gustavo Villatoro reported that crimes such as injuries, robberies, vehicle theft, rape, and homicides all experienced a substantial decline. Notably, rape cases saw a nearly 60% decrease, falling from 1,915 incidents in 2023 to just 804 in 2024. Robberies also plummeted by nearly 45%, from 876 cases to 483. Extortions dropped by more than 48%, with 377 cases reported compared to 732 the previous year.
While theft remains a persistent issue, it also decreased by 22.41% in 2024. Villatoro attributed the success to the government’s commitment to public security and strategic measures that are effectively combating various forms of violence.
“These figures reflect the success of our policies and actions on the ground. The reduction in homicides is accompanied by significant drops in crimes affecting personal safety, which demonstrates that we are not only writing policies but implementing them effectively,” said Villatoro.
The reduction in homicides is particularly noteworthy, with the country recording just 114 violent deaths in 2024. Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado emphasized that 112 of these cases have been resolved, with those responsible now facing prosecution. El Salvador now boasts a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, a figure that represents a coordinated effort by security forces, the Expanded Security Cabinet, and President Nayib Bukele’s leadership.
As the year closed, Delgado celebrated the achievement of 684 days without a homicide since the implementation of the Exception Regime in 2022, a testament to the country’s ongoing transformation and commitment to safety.