7 News Belize

Belize Top Ranking on Regional Murder Rate List
posted (February 5, 2020)
In 2019, the Latin America and Caribbean region is still one of the most murderous regions in the world. And, Belize was among the most deadly. Insightcrime.org - which does an annual overview of crime trends in the region reports that Belize's murder rate of 33.5 per 100,000 puts it in 6th place.

Venezuela is the highest in the region, and likely the world with a murder rate of 60.3, while Jamaica is second at 47.4, and Honduras is third at 41.2. Trinidad is fourth at 37.3, and Salvador is fifth at 36, and Belize is sixth at 33.5. Mexico, Columbia, Guatemala and Puerto Rico fill out the top ten.

And while Venezuela tops the list, that country's murder rate is down 25% from 2018. Salvador's murder rate also reduced significantly. Honduras, on the other hand, showed a 7% increase, while Trinidad had it's deadliest year in history. Jamaica, also had a deadly 2019, but it was only a marginal increase form the year before.

Belize showed a marginal decrease in the murder rate while Mexico recorded its most murderous year in a century.

Guatemala, on the other hand has been showing successive year-to-year decreases in their murder rate.

But, notably, countries like Salvador and Guatemala that have seen murder rates drop have reported an increase in reports of extortion as gangs cease warring and consolidate turf. Guatemala has the highest extortion rate in Central America led by gangs, MS13 and Barrio 18.

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7 News Belize