What are the Most Dangerous Cities in the World?

Ever wondered which cities are so dangerous that even the government warns citizens against travelling to these places for vacation or other purposes? These dangerous cities experience high rates of gun violence, human trafficking, drug abuse, and other kinds of crimes. Find out which are the top 5 most dangerous cities in the world. 

Apr 16, 2025, 16:27 IST
Most Dangerous Cities in the World
Most Dangerous Cities in the World

Most of the dangerous cities in the world are in the countries of Mexico and Venezuela. Brazil follows them closely in being considered a dangerous city to live in. Mexico is located in North America, whereas Venezuela lies on the northern coast of South America. The main types of crimes committed in both these countries are homicide, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and violence against women. 

Most Dangerous Cities in the World 

Here are the top 5 Most Dangerous Cities in the World.  

                  City

           Country

      1. Tijuana

           Mexico 

      2.  Acapulco

           Mexico

      3. Caracas

         Venezuela

      4. Ciudad Victoria

           Mexico

      5. Ciudad Juárez

           Mexico



Most Dangerous Cities in the World


1. Tijuana, Mexico 

 Tijuana in Mexico is officially the most dangerous city in the world. The main type of crime is organised crime. The criminal network is deep-rooted, with ties extending beyond Mexico to other US cities as well. These organised criminal networks act as a bridge between Latin America and the United States. 

Drug trafficking is a major issue recognised by the government officials in Tijuana, Mexico. Back in 2022, the city was infamously labelled as “Mexico’s Fentanyl Capital”. The criminal groups are responsible for major property damage, extortion, and even murder in the distribution of cocaine, weed, methamphetamine, and heroin. 

The impact of this drug racket was so strongly felt across the US borders as well that the United States government had to get involved in investigating the mass homicides because of the drug usage. 

 

2. Acapulco, Mexico 

 Acapulco in Mexico faces a similar fate to Tijuana. The Independent Cartel of Acapulco is a criminal group that openly operates its criminal activities with no success from the government in being able to eliminate them. 

Many of the existing business operations are forced to shut down because of the pressure from these criminal organisations to extort money and profit from them. If these cases of open extortion, kidnapping, and mass homicide weren’t enough, the hurricane Otis that struck Acapulco in 2023 has negatively impacted its tourism. There has been special intervention from the US State Department to deter tourists from visiting Acapulco under all circumstances. 

 

3. Caracas, Venezuela 

 The city of Caracas in Venezuela is plagued by the crimes of kidnapping in broad daylight, with no aid for the victims of such activities. This city has the most brutal kind of homicide incidents, which are an increasing topic of worry for the safety of the citizens. 

Innocent civilians with no links to these organised groups end up losing their lives because of the extreme confidence of these crime mafias, who are ready to kill anybody for the pettiest of reasons, as simple as pickpocketing. 

 

4. Ciudad Victoria, Mexico 

 Ciudad Victoria is the capital city of the Mexican state called Tamaulipas. This city faces the issue of internalised gang warfare between different criminal groups of Ciudad Victoria. They commit homicide against alleged members of the opposing groups to capture areas and land. 

There is frequent news of police officers losing their lives when they try to crack down on the operations of these organised criminal groups. 

 

5. Ciudad Juárez, Mexico 

 The city of Ciudad Juarez has the worst crime rate related to women. Femicide is one of the top issues the city battles. Women are murdered, assaulted, and kidnapped in such large numbers that no one bats an eyelid anymore. Such occurrences have been normalised even inside homes where domestic violence and the murder of wives and daughters is rampant. 

Reasons for the High Crime Rate 

The main reason behind the crime rate in Mexican cities, which makes them rank so high on the list of most dangerous cities in the world, is the organised drug cartels encouraging drug trafficking and committing mass homicide.

The case with the high number of crimes in the cities of Venezuela is a little different from Mexico. Venezuela faces severe economic hardship and mass corruption, with little to no aid from those in power. This pushes the people further into the trenches of illegal activities, ranging from kidnapping, homicide, and human trafficking. 

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Ayukta Zisha
Ayukta Zisha

Content Writer

    Ayukta Zisha is a Content Writer and Published Author with a Master’s degree in English Literature. She also holds a certification in Digital Marketing from IIT Delhi. Deeply passionate about art, aesthetics, and literature, Ayukta brings a unique creative flair to her writing. A dedicated bibliophile, she continues to explore and share her love for words through engaging and insightful content. You can reach out to her at ayukta.zisha@jagrannewmedia.com

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