Overall crime rate is calculated by dividing the total number of reported crimes of any kind by the total population, then multiplying the result by 100,000 (because crime rate is typically reported as X number of crimes per 100,000 people). Crime rates vary greatly from country to country and are influenced by many factors. For example, high poverty levels and unemployment tend to inflate a country's crime rate. Conversely, strict police enforcement and severe sentences tend to reduce crime rates. There is also a strong correlation between age and crime, with most crimes, especially violent crimes, being committed by those ages 20-30 years old.
The overall crime rate in the United States is 49.2. The violent crime rate in the United States has decreased sharply over the past 25 years. Crime rates vary significantly among the states, with such states as Alaska, New Mexico, and Tennessee experiencing much higher crime rates than states such as Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Some of the world's lowest crime rates are seen in Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Japan, and New Zealand. Each of these countries has very effective law enforcement, and Denmark, Norway, and Japan have some of the most restrictive gun laws in the world.
Countries with the Highest Crime Rate
Country | Crime Index (Numbeo) |
|---|---|
| Venezuela | 82.1 |
| Papua New Guinea | 80.4 |
| Afghanistan | 78.4 |
| Haiti | 78.3 |
| South Africa | 75.5 |
| Honduras | 74.3 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 70.8 |
| Syria | 69.1 |
| Guyana | 68.8 |
| Peru | 67.5 |
1. Venezuela
Venezuela has a crime index of 82.1, the highest of any country in the world. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Venezuela, indicating that it is unsafe to travel to the country, and travelers should not travel there. Venezuela's high crime rates have been attributed to reasons including government corruption, a flawed judiciary system, and the breakdown of the Rule of Law.
2. Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has a crime index of 80.4. In Papua New Guinea, crime, especially violent crime, is primarily fueled by rapid social, economic, and political changes. Raskol gangs engage in small and large-scale criminal activity and consist mainly of members with little education and few employment opportunities. Organized crime in the form of corruption is also common in major cities and largely contributes to the high crime rate. Additionally, the geography of Papua New Guinea makes it appealing for drug and human trafficking.
3. Afghanistan
Afghanistan has the third-highest crime rate. Crime is present in various forms, including corruption, assassinations/contract killings, drug trafficking, kidnapping, and money laundering. Afghanistan supplied 85% of the world's illicit opium in 2020. The Taliban, which regained control of the country in 2021, has pledged to stamp out the opium industry, but it is such a vital part of the country's struggling economy that it will be difficult to eliminate. Widespread unemployment adds additional fuel for many of the country's crimes, such as robbery and assault.
4. Haiti
Haiti’s ongoing political instability has allowed gang violence to flourish, with an estimated 150-200 gangs controlling as much as 60-100% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. In 2023, the country saw 4,789 murders and 2,490 kidnappings, nearly double the previous year’s figures. Firearms and drug trafficking, particularly from the United States and the Dominican Republic, fuel much of the violence. Gangs have taken control of key infrastructure, including ports and fuel terminals, further destabilizing the country. Haiti’s weak border control and insufficient policing have made it a major hub for transnational drug smuggling, particularly for cocaine and cannabis.
5. South Africa
South Africa has the fifth-highest crime rate in the world. South Africa has a notably high rate of assaults, rape, homicides, and other violent crimes. This has been attributed to several factors, including high levels of poverty, inequality, unemployment, social exclusion, and the normalization of violence. South Africa has one of the highest rape rates in the world. More than 1 in 4 men surveyed by the South African Medical Research Council admitted to committing rape.
6. Honduras
With a crime index of 74.3, Honduras ranks sixth in the world in terms of crime rate. Honduras's peak of violent crime occurred in 2012, when the country experienced about 20 homicides per day, typically carried out by gun-toting gangs such as Barrio 18 or Mara Salvatrucha. Honduras is also considered to be a major drug route to the United States. Weak domestic law enforcement has made the country an easy point of entry for the illegal drug trade. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 3 travel advisory for Honduras, indicating that travelers should reconsider visiting the country.
7. Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago has the seventh-highest crime rate in the world at 70.8. Trinidad and Tobago's government faces several challenges in its effect to reduce crime, such as bureaucratic resistance to change, the destructive influence of gangs, drugs, economic recession, and an overburdened legal system. There is a great demand for illegal weapons as well, which drug trafficking and gang-related activities fuel. Trinidad and Tobago has a Level 3 travel advisory, meaning that travelers should reconsider travel. Visitors are typically victims of pickpocketing, assault, theft, and fraud.
8. Syria
Organized crime in Syria, a country with a crime rate of 69.1, is made worse by an ongoing civil war and revolves around the production and trafficking of Captagon – an amphetamine drug whose trade is funding many factions in the conflict. Human trafficking and arms smuggling are rampant in Syria. Militia-controlled areas also experience widespread extortion and racketeering, while the economic devastation from the war has increased smuggling of counterfeit goods and tobacco across Syria’s porous borders.
9. Guyana
Guyana has the ninth-highest crime rate worldwide of 68.8, and a murder rate of about four times higher than that of the United States. Despite a rigorous licensing requirement to own firearms, the use of weapons by criminals is common. Domestic violence happens regularly in Guyana, as the enforcement of domestic violence laws is weak. Armed robberies occur frequently as well, especially in Georgetown. Additionally, tourists are often the victims of hotel break-ins, robberies, and assaults.
10. Peru
Rounding up the list, Peru is one of the largest cocaine producers globally. Organized crime in Peru is heavily influenced by this trade, making it rank among the top in Latin America. The country sees significant activity from drug trafficking organizations, particularly in coca-growing regions like the VRAEM (Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro rivers), where violence and criminality are rampant. Gangs such as Tren de Aragua are involved in extortion, drug trafficking, and contract killings, especially in urban areas like Lima, where over 700 homicides were recorded in 2022, many linked to organized crime.
Important Mentions of Former Top 10 Placers
Brazil
Brazil had the seventh-highest crime rate in the world in 2020 with exceptionally high rates of violent crimes. Brazil's homicide rate was 23.6 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2020—and it had risen as high as 30.8 in previous years. Brazil's most massive problem remains organized crime, as it has expanded in recent years, and violence between rival groups is common. Drug trafficking, corruption, and domestic violence are all pervasive issues in Brazil.
Jamaica
Number ten on the 2020 list of countries with the highest crime rates was Jamaica, which is still plagued by government corruption, gang activity, and high levels of violent crime, including sexual assault. The U.S. Overseas Security Advisory Council describes the Jamaican police force as understaffed and possessed of limited resources. Travelers are advised to especially avoid Spanish Town and parts of Kingston and Montego Bay.
