5 Most Dangerous Countries in Central and South America

In this article, we shared our list of the 5 most dangerous countries in Central and South America. To see our analysis of peace and safety within Latin America, you can go to the 12 Most Dangerous Countries in Central and South America.

5. Haiti

Global Peace Index Ranking: 129

Haiti is a Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic to its east. The second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States, Haiti remains the most impoverished nation in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region and ranks among the poorest countries worldwide. As of 2021, Haiti’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita stood at $1,420, the lowest in the LAC region, which averaged $15,092. Such poverty has led to rampant crime within the country. More than 1,600 incidents including homicide, rape, kidnapping, and lynching were reported in the first quarter of 2023, up from 692 during the same period last year, according to data collected by the Haitian National Police.