Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just like to take a couple of vacations per year, it’s always good to know which places to avoid. While some cities may be a haven for tourists, others might turn out to be a hellish nightmare. That’s why it’s always best to do your research before you think about jetting off to a foreign place. Some cities in the world are considered exceptionally dangerous due to high crime and high homicide rates. While you might imagine that these are located in some distant land, you’ll probably be shocked to learn that some of the world's most dangerous cities are actually in the US. Here’s a list of 18 of the most dangerous cities in the world.
Los Cabos, Mexico
Known for its stunning beaches, surfing, and golfing resorts, Los Cabos is also known for being one of the world's most dangerous cities. With a murder rate of 111.3 per 100,000 citizens, your chances of coming into contact with violent crime in this city make it worth trying to avoid.
Caracas, Venezuela
A city that is notorious for being associated with drug cartels and violent gangs, Caracas has a crime index of 82.0, which is one of the highest there is. Furthermore, with a murder rate of 111.2 per 100,000 citizens, this city is considered highly dangerous.
Saint Louis, MO, United States
Saint Louis is famous for its iconic Gateway Arch and for being a major city along the Mississippi River. However, this city scores very highly for drug abuse and violent crime. With an overall high crime index and low safety rating, tourists and locals need to be extra cautious in Saint Louis.
Pretoria, South Africa
Pretoria is famous for lots of things, including its beautifully tree-lined streets. However, in contrast, it’s also a notoriously dangerous city. With a crime index of 81.2, this suggests that Pretoria is a city with exceptionally high crime rates, and somewhere it’s best to exercise extreme caution as a tourist.
Acapulco, Mexico
Although Acapulco sounds like a tropical cocktail, it might not be the kind of cocktail that you are hoping for. Although it makes us think of Cancun vibes, unfortunately, Acapulco has a very high crime rate, with violent assault, armed robbery, and bribery being the top offenses in this city.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg isn’t far behind Pretoria in its crime index rating, and it still scores within the 80s at 80.1. What’s worse is that crime has been increasing over the past five years in this city, and safety walking alone at night in Johannesburg is rated very low at 8.76.
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
This city scores highly on crime and low on safety, with a crime index of 77.43 and a safety rating of only 22.57. Famed for its giant Christ the Redeemer statue and the Copacabana beach, Rio De Janeiro is a massive seaside city. However, it’s important to remember that this city is as dangerous as it is beautiful, so be prepared to take extra precautions, and it’s better not to travel alone.
Memphis, TN, United States
You might be surprised to find Memphis on this list, but unfortunately, the US does not escape some of the world's most dangerous cities. Located on the Mississippi River in Southwest Tennessee, Memphis is famed for its unique style of blues, soul, and rock n roll music, with both Elvis Presley and Jonny Cash recording albums here. However, this city is a place to take caution as the crime rate here has been rapidly increasing in the past three years; plus, its safety rating for walking alone during the day and at night are both rated as low or very low.
Damascus, Syria
Famed for being a major cultural capital of the Arab world, Damascus is steeped in religious, mystical heritage. However, although it’s known as the oldest capital of the world, Damascus has high crime rates, with a particularly high occurrence of corruption and bribery.
Alice Springs, Australia
Alice Springs in Australia scores highly on every measure within the crime index, except for bribery and corruption, which it scores moderately. If you’re considering visiting his city, it's worth noting that it has very high rates of robbery, theft, and violent assault.
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Renowned for its tropical beaches, bird species, and unique style of calypso, and soca music, the Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago is a beautiful place. Unfortunately, it’s also a dangerous location, especially for tourists. The level of crime here is rated as “very high,” with a crime index rating of 76. 36, and a low safety rating.
Baltimore, MD, United States
Yes, another city that ranks among some of the most dangerous in the world is located in the US, and it’s Baltimore. Known as an important seaport for the United States, Baltimore was also the birthplace of America's national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” That sounds quite positive so far, except for the fact that this city ranks high for violent crime, with very high rates of drug abuse, and it’s also deemed to have a low level of safety.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sao Paulo is Brazil's financial capital and one of the world's most populated cities. With heavily populated areas usually comes higher crime rates, and Sao Paulo is no different. This city has a crime index rating of 70.43, and it has very high rates of violent assaults, including armed robbery, plus a problem with bribery and corruption.
Detroit, MI, United States
It appears that you don’t need to leave the US to experience some of the world's most dangerous cities, as here again we have Detroit, a well-known American metropolis. The birthplace of many music icons, Detroit has always been known for its progressive music scene. Sadly, now the city has a serious drug problem, with drug abuse rated as “very high” while violent crime is also rated high and safety low.
Lima, Peru
While Peru is known as the host of ancient civilizations and one of the largest cities in South America, it’s also known to be a hotspot for criminal drug gangs. Crimes rates in Lima have been increasing over the last three years, and the country has a very high level of violent crimes, including physical assault and armed robbery.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico and the country's largest city, but it’s also its most dangerous. Despite its stunningly beautiful coastline, San Juan is notorious for its level of high crime and high rate of corruption.
Bogota, Columbia
Bogota is the capital of Columbia, and it’s famous for being a hub of cultural museums and art. However, this city is also notoriously dangerous. Tourists are warned to stay within the “safe part” of the north and to avoid the south of the city, which is where most violent crime happens.
Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria and also the financial center of the country. However, this has led to the capital becoming a hotspot for corruption and bribery.
Although Lagos has positive points, like affluent nightlife, stylish boutiques, and restaurants, it also scores highly on every point of the crime index, except for racially motivated assault, and in general, Lagos should be noted as one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
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