In this article, we look at 10 countries with the highest rates of violent crime. You can see how we ranked these countries and read about crime affecting the business environment by heading over to our article, 30 Countries with Highest Rates of Violent Crime.
10. Belize
(Rate per 100,000 population)
Homicide: 31.25
Serious Assault: 251.23
Kidnapping: 1.00
Sexual violence, including rape: 57.50
Overall Score: 0.782
Belize is a country in Central America, located along the Caribbean sea shorelines. It ranks 10th among countries with the highest rates of violent crime.
9. Costa Rica
(Rate per 100,000 population)
Homicide: 11.41
Serious Assault: 138.84
Kidnapping: 0.27
Sexual violence, including rape: 263.41
Overall Score: 0.784
Crime is a major problem in Costa Rica, and American tourists are frequent victims. More than two-thirds of all murder cases in 2022 were linked to organized crime.
8. Guatemala
(Rate per 100,000 population)
Homicide: 19.99
Serious Assault: 121.84
Kidnapping: 0.80
Sexual violence, including rape: 126.10
Overall Score: 0.795
More than 2,800 people were murdered in Guatemala in 2021, which is equivalent to the rate of 19.99 persons per 100,000 population. This is a 5.43% increase from 2020.
7. Bahamas
(Rate per 100,000 population)
Homicide: 29.17
Serious Assault: 772.48
Kidnapping: 3.95
Sexual violence, including rape: 87.77
Overall Score: 0.825
60 out of every 1,000 people in the Bahamas are victims of crime each year. Robberies are one of the most common crimes in the island nation.
6. Dominica
(Rate per 100,000 population)
Homicide: 13.81
Serious Assault: 59.38
Kidnapping: 8.29
Sexual violence, including rape: 248.58
Overall Score: 0.846
Known for hot springs and rainforest, Dominica is situated in the Caribbean. It has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in the world.
5. Jamaica
(Rate per 100,000 population)
Homicide: 52.13
Serious Assault: 116.63
Kidnapping: 0.57
Sexual violence, including rape: 128.51
Overall Score: 0.846
Jamaica is known over the world for being home to renowned celebrities like Bob Marley, Usain Bolt, and Chris Gayle. However, it is also often in the news for its crime. Homicide and sexual violence continue to have high rates on the island.
4. Saint Kitts and Nevis
(Rate per 100,000 population)
Homicide: 29.41
Serious Assault: 378.10
Kidnapping: 4.20
Sexual violence, including rape: 163.84
Overall Score: 0.881
Saint Kitts and Nevis has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world. Murders increased by 40% in 2021 compared to 2020.
3. South Africa
(Rate per 100,000 population)
Homicide: 41.87
Serious Assault: 295.46
Kidnapping: 9.63
Sexual violence, including rape: 175.08
Overall Score: 0.924
South Africa has the third highest rate of violent crime, ranging from murders and rape to kidnappings and robberies. More than 7,000 people were murdered in South Africa in three months between July and September 2022.
2. Saint Lucia
(Rate per 100,000 population)
Homicide: 38.96
Serious Assault: 712.49
Kidnapping: 5.57
Sexual violence, including rape: 225.99
Overall Score: 0.944
Saint Lucia ranks second on our list, with a high prevalence of violent crime as the statistics suggest. Homicide, armed robberies, and sexual assault are common incidents of crime in the island.
1. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
(Rate per 100,000 population)
Homicide: 30.67
Serious Assault: 528.52
Kidnapping: 9.56
Sexual violence, including rape: 258.00
Overall Score: 0.947
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a southern Caribbean nation, with a population of only 0.1 million. It tops the list of countries with the highest rates of violent crime. Rape is on the rise in the island state, with victims ranging from five year old girls to 85 year old women.
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