El Salvador, Bolivia, and Argentina have emerged as the three Latin American nations with the lowest homicide rates per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024, according to official sources and security-focused media outlets.
El Salvador recorded the lowest homicide rate, with 1.9 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Bolivia with 3.0 and Argentina with 3.8. This achievement solidifies El Salvador’s position as the safest country in the Western Hemisphere, with a total of 114 homicides—the lowest in its history. Authorities credit the dramatic reduction in violence to the Territorial Control Plan and the state of emergency, which significantly curbed gang-related crimes. Official sources indicate that most homicides in 2024 resulted from interpersonal conflicts rather than organized crime.
“El Salvador is now irrefutably the safest country in Latin America. It’s incredible to think that just a few years ago, we were the most dangerous country in the world. A good government produces results; a bad government makes excuses. God with us!” President Nayib Bukele stated.
Bolivia reported a 17.6% decline in its homicide rate, with 336 violent crimes recorded through September 2024. However, security experts note that border areas are experiencing rising violence due to smuggling activities. The Bolivian Attorney General’s Office also highlighted an increase in femicides and infanticides, pledging stricter legal measures to combat these crimes.
Meanwhile, Argentina experienced a drop in homicides from 4.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023 to 3.8 in 2024, with a total of 1,810 murders. Security Minister Patricia Bullrich credited the decrease to new policies targeting organized crime, gangs, and drug trafficking. President Javier Milei’s administration has acknowledged that part of this success was inspired by El Salvador’s security strategy.
Other Latin American countries with relatively low homicide rates include Chile (5.5), Peru (6.0), and the Dominican Republic (9.6). In contrast, Ecuador reported one of the highest homicide rates in the region, with 38.8 per 100,000 inhabitants, due to escalating conflicts between drug cartels and organized crime groups.
The Times and other international media have recognized El Salvador’s unprecedented security transformation, positioning it as a model for crime reduction in Latin America.