Many cities in the world are plagued with crime, but some in particular are overflowing with violence or swarming with gangs. However, it’s not just crime that makes a city dangerous. Take a look at these 19 most dangerous cities in the world with four of them being in the US.
Legazpi City, Philippines
At the foothills of an incredibly active volcano, evacuation threatens Legazpi City at any moment. Mount Mayon is constantly increasing in activity, so the government has created a danger zone where all human activity is prohibited. Naturally, residents constantly live in fear that the volcano may erupt.
Cumana, Venezuela
Regarded as an incredibly unsafe city, Cumana has an astounding crime rate. Kidnapping and robberies are especially prevalent, so tourism is actively discouraged. The city also has shortages of food, water, and medicine, and rising tension makes it an extremely difficult place to live.
Fortaleza, Brazil
Fortaleza is an extremely violent city with a lot of murder and assault. Prostitution is also extremely common, and men fall victim to drugging and robbery on a regular basis. Street crime and petty theft are also major issues and additional risks to tourists, particularly throughout the carnival season.
St Louis, USA
When considering 41 different safety factors, WalletHub found St Louis to be one of the most dangerous cities in the US. The city has topped the ranking for murder rates in the US for multiple years in a row and is also in the top ten most dangerous cities in the world.
Kingston, Jamaica
You can be a crime target in any corner of Kingston, but Mountain View is considered to be particularly dangerous due to both social unrest and drug trafficking. In general, however, Kingston is not safe to explore independently, as you may stumble into some particularly violent streets.
Acapulco, Mexico
With a murder rate 28 times higher than the US average, Acapulco is a particularly troubled city. Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty and an exquisite coastline, it is hard to believe this destination is amongst the most dangerous. Sadly, it has a lot of drug and gang-related violence that spills out into the community.
Baltimore, USA
Baltimore is a US city notorious for crime, usually reaching the top five of dangerous city lists. The city is home to some high-poverty neighborhoods in which 80% of Baltimore’s gun violence takes place. Baltimore also has some of the highest drug-related crime outside of South America.
Lahore, Pakistan
Considered the most polluted city in the world, Lahore is incredibly dangerous due to health concerns. Dust and emissions from the city’s industrial sites infect the air, and most trees have been removed to build roads. These two factors combined have created air that is extremely threatening to human health.
Pripyat, Ukraine
This European city is one of the most dangerous globally, and it is also for health reasons rather than crime rates. Following the infamous Chernobyl nuclear power station explosion in 1986, Pripyat has been considered uninhabitable, with USGS reporting the city would not be safe from radiation for at least 20,000 years.
Feira de Santana, Brazil
This Brazilian city has one of the world’s busiest drug trades and is overrun with violent gangs. The overall crime rate is already high, but murder rates are now soaring. The city has quite the reputation for being particularly unsafe, with assault and kidnapping also being major threats.
Georgetown, Guyana
Due to ongoing tension with Venezuela over territory, the border towns of Guyana are extremely dangerous, particularly the city of Georgetown. Police capacity is low, crime levels are high, and the city also has a strong military occupation, with conflict regularly breaking out at the border.
Detroit, USA
With a crime rate triple the national average and triple the state average, Detroit is a hotspot for all sorts of criminal activities. However, this Michigan city has a particularly negative reputation when it comes to homicides due to having one of the highest murder rates in the entire world.
Cape Town, South Africa
The capital of South Africa is one of the most captivating cities on the continent, but it’s also one of the most dangerous. Crime rates in the city are through the roof, with violent crime particularly high, especially murder. If you do visit Cape Town, only explore the city during daylight.
Memphis, USA
Overflowing with murder, rape, and assault, Memphis is one of the globe’s least safe cities, with a crime rate 237% higher than the national average. According to Statista, this leaves Memphis as the most dangerous city in the US and amongst the most dangerous cities in the world.
Cali, Colombia
Renowned for its wild beauty and delicious coffee, Colombia also has a reputation for drug trafficking and criminal organizations. The center of this problem is the Cali Cartel, which has control over 80% of the world’s cocaine. Unfortunately, this has made Cali, an otherwise vibrant city, become one of the world’s most violent.
Celaya, Mexico
Mexico is arguably the most dangerous country in the world, with many of the most dangerous cities being part of its territory. Celaya is one such example; overrun by the cartel, the cops have little influence over crime in this city, with reluctance to get involved due to the staggering risk of death on duty.
Tijuana, Mexico
With a 134 in 100,000 murder rate, Tijuana was ranked as the most violent city in the world in 2019. A reputation for gang activities and violent crime precedes Tijuana, but this doesn’t just affect locals. In fact, the city is particularly threatening to tourists, and many areas should be avoided at all costs.
Los Cabos, Mexico
Yet another Mexican city, World Population Review regards Los Cabos as one of the most dangerous cities on the planet. Despite being amongst Mexico’s leading tourist destinations, Cabo has extreme levels of violent crime. Per 100,000 residents, there are an average of 111.3 deaths each year.
Colima, Mexico
Sadly, the most dangerous city on our list is, once again, in Mexico. The homicide rate in Colima is simply astounding, with 182 murders per 100,000 in 2022. Shockingly, many of these murders were conducted in plain sight, with 330,000 witnesses to murder in the same year.
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