El Salvador: Once a murder capital, today one of the safest countries

Gallup’s latest annual update on global safety highlights that people across the globe feel safer today than they did ten years ago, but several countries have to put in a lot more efforts to achieve the “peaceful societies” that are essential for sustainable development.

Last year, 70% of adults surveyed said the feel safe walking alone at night in their area – a considerably higher number then a decade back. But progress has stalled on this measure in the past several years, according to the update.

Cocaine trafficking takes a toll on Ecuador’s safety scenario

For years, Ecuador used to be considered a relatively peaceful country. The country has some of the largest cocaine producers as neighbours, such as Colombia and Peru. But since the COVID pandemic, Ecuador has spiraled into a deep security crisis.

Gang violence and homicides have increased as a result of cocaine trafficking. Ecuador’s murder rate reached nearly 50 per 100,000 residents in 2023, one of the highest rates globally. Last year, just 27% of Ecuadorians said they felt safe in their area.

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In most economically developed countries and territories carrying strong rules, high majorities of residents said the feel safe walking alone in their areas at night. This is true for countries such as Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Slovenia.

El Salvador makes great progress under PM Nayib Bukele

El Salvador, once considered the murder capital on the planet, has made significant progress over the years as it makes it into the “most safe” list for the first time in 2023 – as a record-high 88% of residents said they feel safe.

The country has drifted in the direction of a police state. But the government’s efforts to tackle gang violence – incarcerating approximately 2% of the country’s population – has made El Salvador safer, according to the Gallup update for 2023.

It is not enough to ensure people are safe. They also need to feel safe. Strategies to help people feel safer may find more success if they start at the local level. Besides asking people about their safety, Gallup also asks about their confidence in public institutions.