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Central America is the most violent region in the world – SICA

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July 12th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) Central America continues to experience steady growth in poverty and violence, according to the “State of the Region” report issued by the Central American Integration System (SICA).  According to the report, Central America is the most violent region in the world that is not an active warzone.

 

The report reveals that between the years 2000 and 2011, the region’s homicide rate doubled from 20 per 100,000 inhabitants to 40.

 

Some 87% of the region’s homicides occurred in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, which the report calls the “Northern Triangle.”

 

According to security expert, Alvaro Ramos, the Northern Triangle countries have a higher level of violence today than they did when they were in the midst of civil war.

 

Meanwhile, Costa Rica barely escapes what the World Health Organization (WHO) considers to be endemic violence.  Costa Rica currently reports 9.7 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, while the WHO considers 10 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants as an epidemic.

 

The report shows that Central America is also struggling to keep its inhabitants out of poverty, though Costa Rica has fared better than many.

 

In terms of education, the report states that Nicaragua is the most illiterate country in the region.

 

Finally, life expectancy in the region has increased from 71.9 years to 74.9 years of age in the last 10 years.  Costa Rica continues to be the country with the highest life expectancy in Central America, with a life expectancy of 80 years of age.

 

 

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  • Benthecat

    As long as the laws in CR favor being a criminal, defending the so called innocent 3rd party, letting violent criminals walk because what judge wants a bad and dangerous person pissed off at them mentality, crime will be the business to be in going forward. When potential retirees realize it is far safer to live in Peoria than Escazu, and they are… CR will dwindle into chaos just like the rest of Central America, because this type of investment is really the only thing floating the economy in CR.

  • mhogan

    You just gotta love statistics. “Costa Rica currently reports 9.7 homicides per 100,000″ — I think the operative word here is “reports.” I lived in a small country which depended on tourism for about 60% of its economy. A lot of pressure was put on tourism operators “never to speak about” injuries and the media was hushed — just ever so quietly rush the injured (sometimes near-death) tourist-related accident victim on an air ambulance flight out and sweep it under the carpet. So much for stats and bad publicity.

    • georgechapogas

      tim certainly subscribes to that view. we get dumb surveys and scold health bs and call it news. when expats what to know is where and how many crimes are committed in expat areas. tim is silent on this. by the way, i am sure this survey is as bogus as every survey they publish and am sick to death of the stupid “health” scolds.

      • http://insidecostarica.com/ Timothy Williams

        George, we are not going to write stories for every killing that happens in La Carpio or Las Tablas. You can’t accuse ICR of shying away from ‘negative’ news – we focus on news that is of most interest to the English-speaking population here. We just covered yesterday the American shot in his home in Puntarenas. The story above, you are commenting on, is not exactly ‘positive,’ either. That said, we are not trying to be Diaro Extra here. We can’t report on a supposed murder in El Coco that none of our stringers there have heard of, based on a comment you post on ICR.

        Side note, many of our readers appreciate the health and environment related articles. If you don’t, don’t click on them or read them. It really is pretty simple.

        • georgechapogas

          either you have no stringers oe they are no good. there have been a series of murders in coco. no word. one guy shot and a story on putas.

          • http://insidecostarica.com/ Timothy Williams

            George, I personally lived in Coco for more than three years and know the police and the OIJ that cover the area. There have been a few ‘crackhead on crackhead’ killings this year, for lack of a better term. Burglaries… well if we covered all of those…. If you have information we don’t on a murder there, please do send it along, in a verifiable form, and we’ll investigate it and publish it – expat rumors from people who barely speak Spanish don’t count. We don’t report heresay, we’re not a blog or tabloid.

      • http://insidecostarica.com/ Timothy Williams

        FYI, George, according to the U.S. Embassy, there have only been 20 Americans killed here since January, 2011 – thats two and a half years ago. Not that we only report on the killings of expats, mind you, but I’m sorry we can’t fill our pages with enough death for you – A) there isn’t enough of it that is targeted towards our readership B) Costa Rica’s homicide rate is significantly lower than Los Angeles or Chicago C) there is other news to report on.

        • georgechapogas

          who said they were americans? there is a crime crazy change here and in tamerindo. get a clue.

          • http://insidecostarica.com/ Timothy Williams

            George, we are not going to report every delinquent – on – delinquent murder in this country, period. Read Diaro Extra. Or start a newspaper.

          • Benthecat

            Ahh.. the stench of georgie has filled the room. Take a bath george and skip the bottle during daylight hours. As a favor to all of us?

  • Chris Thomas

    The scary thing is that some murders are not reported or ruled as suicide to fool the stats, the country is going thru something we call Karma for all the corruption and money they have stolen from tourists and investors, the human rights activism here is a joke

    • michaelwink

      I’d agree that an alarming number of obvious murders seem to be labeled as suicides. I seem to recall a story about a gringo in jaco who was shot 3 times being called a suicide.

      • Chris Thomas

        Also in Costa Rica sometimes some murders they list under accidental death like drownings, also when tourist disappear like the two elderly French couple in Quepos no bodies no murder, if a tourist disappears they do not bother to investigate, many people go missing in this country locals and sometimes tourists with no trace and no investigations

  • prdatki

    I live in San Jose, never had a problem, ask the people that live in Chicago,DC or New York about the robbery and murders!
    Yes the Goverment should make it easier for peope to own weapons and get proper training.

    • mhogan

      I don’t think people moved here to expect the crime in the cities you mention; therefore, your comparison is nonsense. Your experience is anecdotal (maybe your demeanor is threatening or you have nothing worth taking). Just saying. And it ain’t happening here that the government better allow for self defense vis-a-vis weapons and their responsible use.

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