Ranking of the 15 Most Dangerous Cities in the World

It is no secret that there are places in the world where it is better not to go, but have you ever wondered which ones?

Obviously, common sense should never be lacking during a trip and it is always necessary to have some caution wherever you go, but certainly knowing from the outset which destinations to avoid helps you avoid at least some of the risk.
Personal safety and security always comes first, so below we have prepared for you, relying on the well-known Numbeo database whose theme is quality of life (both in economic and safety terms), the ranking of the 15 most dangerous cities in the world.

NB: The following ranking is based on data collected by the well-known international website Numbeo, regarding the perceived level of crime. A crime index was calculated for each city: crime levels below 20 are considered 'very low', crime levels between 20 and 40 as 'low', crime levels between 40 and 60 as 'moderate', crime levels between 60 and 80 as 'high' and finally crime levels above 80 as 'very high'.

15 - Memphis, Tennessee, USA

There are many factors that make this city one of the most dangerous in the world, but most of all crime for profit. Unlike the luxury we are used to when talking about US cities, Memphis is instead a very poor city, a factor that affects more than a quarter of its population. This results in robberies, burglaries, muggings, kidnappings for extortion, and anything else that can put money in the pockets of locals, whether at the expense of other well-off locals or poor tourists visiting the city.

14 - Trinidad and Tobago

They are wonderful Caribbean islands with heavenly beaches, but let's remember that not all that glitters is gold! In fact, we must also reveal the other side of the coin.
Port of Spain is the capital of the two islands, located in Trinidad, whose areas, especially on the outskirts, are very risky for tourists who, after a day of sunbathing and relaxing on the beach, would like to go out and have fun.
We are therefore talking specifically about the evening and night hours, with unlit and unmarked streets that certainly do not help. Drug trafficking tops the list of factors that make the city dangerous, but as far as visitors are concerned, we report mainly pickpocketing, muggings, robberies and even a good deal of financial fraud (in the case of stays for work or investment).
There is also intrusion into flats and villas rented to tourists. Hotels with reception are therefore safer in this respect! Unfortunately, there is also no shortage of murders in the case of opposition to the violence listed above.

13 - Kabul, Afghanistan

This is the capital of Afghanistan, a state that has always been among the most dangerous places in the world due to well-known wars and terrorist acts. Particularly in its main city, it all began when the US invaded. From there on, there has been a succession of unpleasant events for almost a decade, resulting in economic instability that seems to see no way out, generating a high rate of poverty that results in kidnappings, thefts, robberies and even murders in order to extort money.

12 - Porto Alegre, Brazil

It is only the first of the Brazilian cities in this list. Brazil is indeed known for its crime rate related to theft and pickpocketing that occur almost everywhere, but specifically in Porto Alegre, in the south of the country, one has to be more careful than in other places.
All the police that one fortunately encounters around make one perceive a less than tranquil atmosphere, but they mainly patrol the historic centre and the main streets. The most frequent incidents are thefts , pickpocketing and armed robberies, but mainly in the peripheral areas. These occur mostly near ATMs where a small haul is assured, but also on public transport. Avoiding certain behaviours such as taking buses, walking around alone, being seen withdrawing money and of course not showing jewellery, mobile phones and other valuables, can save the day and the holiday!

11 - Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Photo by NgrundIt is located along the coast and is another place where one can be enthralled by beautiful beaches and crystal clear sea, but unfortunately one should never let one's guard down. Assaults, armed robberies and home invasions are increasing year after year and always around the corner, especially at night. Exacerbating the situation are the corruption of the police and the justice system, which, in the specific case of tourists, certainly do not help, on the contrary, they extend a helping hand to the criminals.

10 - Salvador, Brazil

It is another destination that is not only beach, sun and relaxation. Here, even taking a carefree swim could turn into a problem, as one would leave one's personal belongings unattended for a few minutes. In fact, the crime rate is so high that even on the beach one has to be on the lookout for street vendors and even children lurking in the hope of selling something.

Theft and pickpocketing are the most common incidents, which is why it is advisable to avoid carrying valuables or too much cash. Sometimes incidents even degenerate into murder if the tourist opposes them. Compounding the situation are drugs and a lot of prostitution, both of which occur with insistence and arrogance.

9 - Recife, Brazil

Here, as in the two previous Brazilian cities already mentioned, thefts, pickpocketing, assaults and robberies are the main features, but at an even higher rate. As in the previous cases, street vendors, pushy children, prostitutes and drug dealers target tourists, resulting in unpleasant incidents of violence that often end in murder. The unfortunate thing is that the inhabitants themselves, especially hotel receptionists, warn tourists by first advising them never to walk around the city and always to prefer taxis, which is obviously uncomfortable for a visitor who simply wants to enjoy his or her holiday, especially since such incidents occur equally in the streets and on the beach. Recife is however a city continuously patrolled by the police, but this is clearly not enough!

8 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

One of the best known cities in Brazil, but also one of the most dangerous in the country and the world. Crime involves all kinds of delinquents: pickpockets, robbers, swindlers, kidnappers, drug dealers, prostitutes. All this is inevitably due to the poverty in which the population pours.
Giving directions to follow would be superfluous as there are no places or times of the day that are safer or not. Certainly the night hours are when one is most targeted, but one must consider that even an event like the famous Rio Carnival, which should be pleasant and festive, can turn into a misadventure. As for places, there is no accommodation, restaurant, shop, bank or anything else that is not exposed to danger to the detriment of tourists!

7 - San Pedro Sula, Honduras

It is constantly on the list of the worst places in the world from a security point of view.
It has a particularly high crime rate of 170 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, which is a very high figure for a city that is not a war zone. The main problems are related to gang wars that lead to constant shootings, kidnappings and murders, as well as the illegal drug and arms trafficking that they carry out in full view of everyone. The police are corrupt and pretend not to see, not protecting first and foremost the safety of the citizens themselves, let alone the tourists! In conlusion, political instability, poverty and corruption prevail in San Pedro Sula.

6 - Johannesburg, South Africa

One of South Africa's major cities. It is among the most dangerous cities in the world and among the poorest in the country, where poverty has been on the rise since 1990 and continues to generate crime. The most frequent incidents are assaults, armed robberies, thefts and even carjacking (being robbed while stationary in a car). Police corruption and passive acceptance on the part of the inhabitants are also prevalent.

5 - Durban, South Africa

We remain in South Africa by moving to the coast, to one of the main cities and even more dangerous than the previous one on the list. Here, too, there has been a significant increase in discontent, violence and crime since 1990, which has also led to an increase in murders. Thefts, robberies, home invasions and vandalism of various kinds are the order of the day, to the detriment of both inhabitants and tourists. There is also a high level of police corruption in Durban.

4 - Pretoria, South Africa

This is a decidedly dangerous city in South Africa. Contrary to what one might think the murder rate is not particularly high, however what contributes to the city's fourth place in this ranking are all other types of crime and their annual total of around 12,700 cases.
These range from robberies to rapes, ending in some cases with murder. Among the major concerns of residents, tourists and hotels themselves ishousebreaking to be robbed, as it is many times accompanied by violent assaults. In the case of Pretoria, corruption and poor law enforcement also dominate this situation.

3 - Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Here we are again in South Africa, in a city that apparently does not make one quiet at night or during the day. Here too, crimes have significant numbers and range from minor offences such as petty pickpocketing in the streets to more serious ones such as rape, armed robbery, home invasions and assaults that end in murder. Of the latter, statistics report that cases have been steadily increasing since 2015!
In Pietermaritzburg, unlike the other South African cities listed so far, no corruption is reported, but neither are there any particular police checks.

2 - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

This is the capital of Papua New Guinea, a city where the population is steadily increasing, but also unemployment and poverty, which have led to a significant increase in crime.

Crime goes by the name of Raskol, criminal gangs whose aim is obviously to gain income at the expense of other people, be they locals or tourists. In this case, we are not talking about the gangs we are used to seeing in American films, but about real criminals who go around armed with guns and machetes whose main activity is not drug dealing, but robberies, house break-ins, thefts of all kinds and anything else that can bring money into their pockets. Of course, there is no shortage of gang clashes with shootings and deaths in the streets.

1 - Caracas, Venezuela

The Venezuelan capital has been at the top of the list for years. The criminal activities that'give' it this supremacy are essentially two, drugs and murders, but there is no lack of theft, rape and robbery. To understand why this first place is so high, however, it is necessary to take a look at the general situation in the country. Venezuela has for years been stuck in a situation of economic instability for which there is never any light at the end of the tunnel, and this is enough to trigger the formation of gangs, the latter always on the increase with consequent hostilities between them, and episodes of street violence of all kinds. The homicide rate is 134 per 100,000 inhabitants, a frightening figure for such a populated city! The most worrying issue is that many cases remain unsolved, others are simply dismissed as normal, as if they were not important. In short, Caracas is really a city to stay away from.