El Salvador closed 2024 with a record low 114 homicides, continuing notable security gains under a second full year of a state of emergency that has given the government extraordinary powers and curtailed some fundamental rights

Summary

El Salvador ended 2024 with a record low 114 homicides, equivalent to 1.9 per 100,000 people, making it the safest country in the Western Hemisphere according to President Nayib Bukele.

The drop follows two years under a state of emergency aimed at eradicating gang violence, granting authorities sweeping powers but limiting civil rights.

Over 83,000 arrests have been made, though 354 detainees reportedly died in custody.

While criticized for human rights violations, Bukele’s crackdown has drastically improved security, boosting his popularity.

  • VoroxpeteEnglish
    21·
    4 days ago

    Thank you for the correction, much appreciated.

    And yes, I am aware that it’s older data, but given that Bukele’s moves as president have consisted entirely of even harsher policing, I sincerely doubt that that number has gone lower.

    • Kusimulkku@lemm.eeEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      Could it be that that number came from active warfare with the gangs (which have now been neutered)?

      • VoroxpeteEnglish
        11·
        3 days ago

        Syria’s numbers are literally from an active civil war, and they’re half of El Salvador’s.

        So no, I don’t really feel like that holds water as a justification. Valid as context, yes, but there’s still no good reason for the number to be that high.

        Also “Our country is really peaceful now that we’ve run out of people for cops to kill” doesn’t exactly sound like a paradise to me.

        Yes, it’s why Bukele is popular. But we shouldn’t be holding it up as something to emulate.

        • Kusimulkku@lemm.eeEnglish
          3·
          3 days ago

          Syria’s numbers are literally from an active civil war

          Doesn’t that make their numbers immediately questionable? Especially since what level of policing do you even have during a civil war

          • VoroxpeteEnglish
            21·
            3 days ago

            What it means in this case is that you’ve got open warfare between the police and a large segment of the populace. Not unlike your premise that the numbers from El Salvador are the result of, effectively, open warfare between the police and the gangs.

            Neither countries numbers are any more or less questionable than the other’s. Take from this what you will.

            • Kusimulkku@lemm.eeEnglish
              3·
              3 days ago

              I’d say in Syria it was more militants and militaries doing the warfare rather than police, but that’s just my gut feeling, the police’s involvement might’ve been larger than I think

              • VoroxpeteEnglish
                21·
                3 days ago

                Read the source. It specifically notes that the numbers from Syria are exceptionally high because they are in the context of an active civil war.