Highest Crime in El Salvador

Top 74 cities ranked by highest crime

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · El Salvador

Highest Crime — El Salvador

1 Izalco 13 7.9 per 1K

2 Antiguo Cuscatlán 05 7.9 per 1K

3 Chalchuapa 11 7.9 per 1K

4 Quezaltepeque 05 7.9 per 1K

5 La Unión 07 7.9 per 1K

6 Ayutuxtepeque 10 7.9 per 1K

7 Acajutla 13 7.9 per 1K

8 Aguilares 10 7.9 per 1K

9 Sensuntepeque 02 7.9 per 1K

10 Chalatenango 03 7.9 per 1K

11 Ahuachapán 01 7.9 per 1K

12 Metapán 11 7.9 per 1K

13 San Rafael Oriente 09 7.9 per 1K

14 Puerto El Triunfo 14 7.9 per 1K

15 La Libertad 05 7.9 per 1K

16 San Francisco 08 7.9 per 1K

17 Sonzacate 13 7.9 per 1K

18 Santiago de María 14 7.9 per 1K

19 Armenia 13 7.9 per 1K

20 Sonsonate 13 7.9 per 1K

21 San Salvador 10 7.9 per 1K

22 Soyapango 10 7.9 per 1K

23 San Miguel 09 7.9 per 1K

24 Santa Ana 11 7.9 per 1K

25 Mejicanos 10 7.9 per 1K

26 Santa Tecla 05 7.9 per 1K

27 Apopa 10 7.9 per 1K

28 Delgado 10 7.9 per 1K

29 Santo Tomás 10 7.9 per 1K

30 San Marcos 10 7.9 per 1K

31 Usulután 14 7.9 per 1K

32 Cojutepeque 04 7.9 per 1K

33 Cuscatancingo 10 7.9 per 1K

34 San Vicente 12 7.9 per 1K

35 Zacatecoluca 06 7.9 per 1K

36 San Martín 04 7.9 per 1K

37 Ilopango 10 7.9 per 1K

38 Santa Elena 14 7.9 per 1K

39 Nahuizalco 13 7.9 per 1K

40 San Sebastián 12 7.9 per 1K

41 San Juan Opico 05 7.9 per 1K

42 Panchimalco 10 7.9 per 1K

43 Nuevo Cuscatlán 05 7.9 per 1K

44 Chirilagua 09 7.9 per 1K

45 Olocuilta 06 7.9 per 1K

46 Candelaria de La Frontera 11 7.9 per 1K

47 Tonacatepeque 10 7.9 per 1K

48 Concepción de Ataco 01 7.9 per 1K

49 Nueva Guadalupe 09 7.9 per 1K

50 Apastepeque 12 7.9 per 1K

51 Coatepeque 11 7.9 per 1K

52 Suchitoto 04 7.9 per 1K

53 El Rosario 06 7.9 per 1K

54 Guatajiagua 08 7.9 per 1K

55 Rosario de Mora 10 7.9 per 1K

56 San Alejo 07 7.9 per 1K

57 Juayúa 13 7.9 per 1K

58 Santa Rosa de Lima 07 7.9 per 1K

59 Turín 01 7.9 per 1K

60 Zaragoza 05 7.9 per 1K

61 Berlín 14 7.9 per 1K

62 Guazapa 10 7.9 per 1K

63 Jucuapa 14 7.9 per 1K

64 Ciudad Arce 05 7.9 per 1K

65 Nueva Concepción 03 7.9 per 1K

66 Tacuba 01 7.9 per 1K

67 Santiago Nonualco 06 7.9 per 1K

68 El Tránsito 09 7.9 per 1K

69 Atiquizaya 01 7.9 per 1K

70 San Antonio del Monte 13 7.9 per 1K

71 Jiquilisco 14 7.9 per 1K

72 El Congo 11 7.9 per 1K

73 Chinameca 09 7.9 per 1K

74 Ciudad Barrios 09 7.9 per 1K

Cities with the highest crime rates in El Salvador face public safety challenges that affect residents' quality of life and economic development. Izalco has 7.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.

High crime rates are often linked to economic factors including poverty, unemployment, income inequality, and limited access to education and social services. Addressing crime effectively requires tackling these underlying root causes alongside traditional law enforcement approaches.

Many cities on this list are actively implementing comprehensive safety strategies including community policing, violence intervention programs, youth mentorship, and economic development initiatives aimed at reducing the conditions that contribute to criminal activity.

Did You Know?

1. The violent crime rate in Izalco is 2.0x the national average.
2. Crime rates have been declining nationally for decades — even cities on this list have generally seen improvements over time.
3. Violent crime is heavily concentrated in specific neighborhoods — most areas within these cities are considerably safer than the citywide statistics suggest.

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El Salvador — By Region

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