In 2022, there were nearly 40.4 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in the country, down from a homicide rate of 40.9 year earlier. Corrupt Venezuelan police officers may be involved in some 20 percent of the "deaths from resisting authority" that the government tries to keep out of the official tally. United States vs Venezuela Crime Stats Compared - NationMaster Saint Kitts and Nevis - 36.09. Official websites use .gov Owing to its ever-growing homicide rate, Venezuela is among the most dangerous countries in Latin America and the world. February 8, 2023. Challenging infrastructure problems and prolific corruption within law enforcement and the judicial system, continue to be important factors with regard to crime response and prevention. [80] In 2006, they received arms and funding from the state when they were brought under the government's community councils. Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 1959 . [5] In the 1950s, the rapid urbanization of the population saw some rises in violent crime. [112][113] In 2014, former Miss Venezuela 2004 winner Monica Spear and her husband were murdered with her 5-year-old daughter being shot while visiting, and an elderly German tourist was murdered only a few weeks later. With 16,000 homicides last year, Venezuela became the world's second deadliest country. In 2015, 17,778 people were murdered in Venezuela; however, the VOV revealed that those numbers were as high as 27,875. Backlinks from other websites and blogs are the lifeblood of our site and are our primary source of new traffic. The report stated that 33% of kidnappings occurred in the capital city of Caracas and that hundreds of kidnappings happen every year. The best of the best: the portal for top lists & rankings: Strategy and business building for the data-driven economy: Show sources information [75][76][77], There was little history of organized crime in Venezuela until the start of the Bolivarian Revolution. The majority of violent crimes in Venezuela take place in impoverished areas. Nigeria - 34.52. note 1: the country lies on major sea and air routes linking North and South America note 2: Venezuela has some of the most unique geology in the world; tepuis are massive table-top mountains of the western Guiana Highlands that tend to be isolated and thus support unique endemic plant and animal species; their sheer cliffsides account for some of the most spectacular . Venezuela has a crime index of 83.76, the highest of any country in the world. Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are active in Venezuela. Venezuela | Economic Indicators | Moody's Analytics [37] OVV data has 23,047 homicides committed in Venezuela in 2018, a rate of 81.4 per 100,000 people, with the decline being attributed to emigration. In 2020, the country had a crime rate of 99.7 per 100,000 people. Sentences frequently were light, and convictions often were overturned on appeal. The penal reform also included provisions for the prosecution of any police officer found to have made an arrest "without cause." With a population of over 2.9 million inhabitants, the number of murders per 100,000 inhabitants in the greater Caracas area was 71. Venezuela's violent crime fuels the death business | Reuters Thor Halvorssen, founder of the Human Rights Foundation[17], Under Hugo Chvez, the "institution" of Venezuela deteriorated, with political instability, impunity and violent government language increasing. The facility had been overcrowded by more than three times its designed capacity.[147]. Since 2017, when it peaked . [96] Videos circulated on social media showing colectivos threatening protesters and shooting in the streets;[97] two protestors were shot. [121] Some have criticized Plan Patria Segura calling it a failure after crime continued to increase following its implementation. These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years. 16 Pros and Cons of Living in Venezuela (2023 Updated) So if you have a police force, it's not about whether you're doing your job, it's about whether you're a revolutionary. Chavez's penal code reform of 1999 led to 12,000 criminals being released from jail and put back on the streets without supervision. [117][104] The United Nations has stated that the Venezuelan government is lacking 20,000 investigative police. [5] In 1994, when Rafael Caldera became president, he attempted to strengthen Venezuela's "institution", staying in the center of political issues, performing both conservative and reformative actions that resulted in the increase of the murder rate stopping; though his popularity and the public's trust in the political system decreased.[5]. [111] In 2017, it was revealed that even military personnel became targets, with criminals instead beginning to just kill all of their victims before stealing their belongings, introducing a more violent face to theft in the country. [16], In the early-20th century, Venezuela was limited to violent crimes occurring in rural areas. Venezuela crime out of control, imperiling Chavez re-election - USA TODAY Millions of people have been pushed into poverty as a result of the country's years-long crisis. Venezuela: homicide rate 2020, by city. In 2009, there were record levels of murders (nearly 1,500), robberies (3,000), and kidnappings (99) reported to the Police in Miranda. Many unaffiliated criminals are also increasingly involved in kidnappings, either dealing with victim's families directly or selling the victim to terrorist groups. [46] Wealthy Venezuelans invest in armored vehicles and bodyguards, while middle class Venezuelans change routes to work frequently, refrain from wearing jewelry in public, and never travel on foot alone. [54], According to Brabazon, businesses, families and friends gather money and put it aside for in the event they need it to pay kidnapping ransoms. Profit from the additional features of your individual account. Venezuela's unending tale of murder and sorrow | The Star In the year 2000, the rate was only 58 per 100,000 people. [7][8][9][10] By 2015, crime, which was often the topic Venezuelans worried about the most according to polls, was the second largest concern compared to shortages in Venezuela. [51] At least 80% of kidnappings occur in a limited area around Caracas and including Miranda State. [5] By 1993, Venezuela's murder rate stood at 21 homicides per 100,000 people. Use Ask Statista Research Service. [91] As colectivos attempted to gain independence from the government, they began "controlling organized crime like drug trafficking in Caracas barrios". . Every Caracas neighborhood is susceptible to crime. In 2015, Venezuela's homicide rate was the world . Guns in Venezuela Firearms, gun law and gun control [142], In Venezuelan prisons, inmates partake in gladiatorial matches to settle disputes. [82][83], During the 2014 Venezuelan protests against Maduro, colectivos acted against the opposition protesters. Crime. [22], Escalating violent crime, especially murder, had been called "perhaps the biggest concern" of Venezuelans during the nationwide crisis. Many people are victimized by crime because of fear and the perceived inability of Venezuela's criminal justice system to prevent crime. Why Is Caracas Venezuela So Dangerous - BikeHike Show publisher information What's behind Venezuela's violent crime problem? - Al Jazeera Venezuela under President Hugo Chvez has the fourth-highest murder rate in the world and an abysmal crime-solving rate. [88] An Organization of American States report on human rights violations in Venezuela stated that colectivos murdered at least 131 individuals between 2014 and 2017 during the anti-government protests. Statista. The country has one of the top five highest per capita murder rates in the world. These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years. If you use our datasets on your site or blog, we ask that you provide attribution via a link back to this page. He also explained that prison are controlled by gangs and that "very little has been done" to control them. Deaths in street crime are so common that one of Venezuela's principal NGOs, the Venezuelan Violence Observatory, is launching an advertising campaign featuring . [52], El Pas reported in 2014 that Chvez had years earlier assigned colectivos to be "the armed wing of the Bolivarian Revolution" for the Venezuelan government, giving them weapons, communication systems, motorcycles and surveillance equipment to exercise control in the hills of Caracas where police are forbidden entry. Maria recalls a shift in the nature of the crimes as desperation fueled robberies with the threat of violence. [56] According to Interpol, the files found by Colombian forces were considered to be authentic. Fauna crime is spurred by demand from the US, China and Europe. In mid-2004 Venezuela's estimated population totaled 26.2 million, which would be a murder rate of 42 per 100,000. People avoid being out Gunson reported that colectivos combat criminal gangs in neighborhoods and take over the previous gang's business in crime and also take over buildings already owned by individuals and collect rent from the owners. "The perception of petroleum as the cause of Venezuela's corruption had become widespread during this period." Crime in Venezuela is widespread, with violent crimes such as murder and kidnapping increasing annually. #ga-ad {display: none;} Crime levels in the Greater Caracas area remain severe and widespread. Is Venezuela Safe in 2023? | Safety Concerns | Travellers Many people are victimized by crime because of fear and the perceived inability of Venezuela's criminal justice system to prevent crime. [27][28] Recently, the murder rate in Venezuela is the subject of some dispute according to the Associated Press, since Bolivarian government slowly denied access to homicide statistics. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Crime Rates & Trends in America And Worldwide: Key Insights 2022 This high crime rate is due to the high levels of poverty and violence in Venezuela. [127] In a Cabo Vadillo (es) episode revealing crime in Caracas, it is stated that at the time of recording in 2014, there were over 5 million illegal firearms in a city of about 5 million people. [5] According to Gareth A. Jones and Dennis Rodgers in their book Youth violence in Latin America: Gangs and Juvenile Justice in Perspective, "With the change of political regime in 1999 and the initiation of the Bolivarian Revolution, a period of transformation and political conflict began, marked by a further increase in the number and rate of violent deaths" showing that in four years, the murder rate had increased from 25 per 100,000 in 1999 to 44 per 100,000 in 2003. . Well armed criminal gangs operate with impunity, often setting up fake police checkpoints. Venezuela's murder rate decreased from 92 per 100,000 in 2016 to 81.4 in 2018, according to the Venezuelan Violence Observatory (OVV), due in part to criminals joining millions of other Venezuelans in fleeing the country. Why is the crime rate so high in Venezuela? - 2023 Much of Caracas crime and violence can be attributed to mobile street gangs and organized crime groups. 24,000 murders last year confirm Venezuela as one of the world's most A lock ( 10 Facts about Violence in Venezuela. Home invasions have occurred in buildings where U.S. Embassy employees reside. Congresswoman Delsa Solorzano -- also the vice president of opposition party Un . For Crime Statistics, please contact Lance Eber at (209) 385-4701. San Antonio Prison was controlled by El Conejo (The Rabbit), a powerful jailed drug trafficker who makes his "enforcers" patrol the prison. World Report 2021: Venezuela | Human Rights Watch marked by a further increase in the number and rate of violent deaths" showing that in four years, the murder rate had increased from 25 per 100,000 in 1999 to 44 per 100,000 in 2003. . Se espera su declaracin pblica en EE UU", "Detienen a comandante de la Milicia con cargamento de drogas", "Venezuela Military Officials Piloted Drug Plane", "La Casa Militar de Maduro custodi el traslado de droga de sus sobrinos", "Venezuelan first lady's nephews convicted in U.S. drug trial", "EEUU: postergaron una vez ms la audiencia de los narcosobrinos de Maduro | Nicols Maduro, Narcotrfico en Venezuela, Nueva York - Amrica", "Restan das para el juicio de los "narcosobrinos", "Difieren audiencia del caso de los "narcosobrinos" de Cilia", "La mujer de Maduro acusa a la DEA de secuestrar a sus "narcosobrinos", "Nicols Maduro, seis das de silencio en torno al escndalo de los 'narcosobrinos', "US Blacklists Thailand, Malaysia Over Trafficking", "The United States blacklists Venezuela in human trafficking", "10 claves para entender las Zonas de Paz", "As operan los 'colectivos', las fuerzas paramilitares chavistas de Venezuela", "The devolution of state power: The 'Colectivos', "Venezuela's Leftist Collectives: Criminals or Revolutionaries? . If you use our chart images on your site or blog, we ask that you provide attribution via a link back to this page. [40], Director James Brabazon stated that "kidnapping crimes had skyrocketed after late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez freed thousands of violent prisoners as part of controversial criminal justice system reforms" while also increasing due to Colombian organized crime as well. [50], There is no reliable data on kidnapping in Venezuela and available data is considered an underestimate. The discovery of oil worsened political corruption,[98] and by the late 1970s, Juan Pablo Prez Alfonso's description of oil as "the Devil's excrement" became a common expression in Venezuela. ", "Venezuela election is a high stakes affair for local vigilante groups", "Colectivos de paz accionan armas de fuego en la Rmulo Gallegos ante mirada de la GNB", "Colectivos estaran involucrados e12 homicidios 25/03/14Caracas", "Venezuela violence puts focus on militant 'colectivo' groups", "Nights of terror: Attacks and illegal raids on homes in Venezuela", "OAS says to present evidence of Venezuela rights violations to The Hague", "Colectivos en Venezuela: Organizaciones sociales o criminales? Let's get into it. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/984669/homicide-rate-venezuela/, Homicide rate in Venezuela from 2014 to 2022, (in number of homicides per 100,000 inhabitants), Latin America & Caribbean: homicide rates 2021, by city, Latin America & Caribbean: homicides number 2021, by city, Latin America & Caribbean: number of homicide victims 2020, Brazil: number of homicides 2007-2019, by region, Brazil: number of homicides 2019, by state, Number of homicides in Colombia 2021, by region, Colombia: share of homicides 2020, by area, Number of homicides involving a knife in England and Wales 2008-2022, Homicides by method of killing in England and Wales 2022, Number of homicide cases in Scotland 2019/20, by main motive for killing, Homicide crimes in Romania 2005-2015, by type of weapon used, Venezuela: number of homicides 2020, by selected city, Brazil: homicides number 2021, by selected city, Perceived and actual main causes of violent death in India 2018, U.S.: number of violent victimizations, by victimoffender relationship 2003-2012, Canada: number of violent crimes 2021, by type, Number of violent crime victims in the U.S. in 2019, by age group and crime, Child victims of family-related homicides in Canada in 2016, by cause of death, Homicide rate in Venezuela from 2014 to 2022 (in number of homicides per 100,000 inhabitants), Find your information in our database containing over 20,000 reports. [40][41] At that time, they would advise families not to speak to report the murder of their family member to the media in exchange to have the process of recovering the victims body in an expedited manner. Over 90 percent of homicides in Venezuela go unpunished. Please check your download folder. [49] News.com.au called Venezuela capital "the kidnap capital of the world" in 2013, noting that Venezuela had the highest kidnapping rate in the world and that 5 people were kidnapped for a ransom every day. Don't go expecting justice if you are a victim of crime - only a very small percentage of crimes result in trials and convictions. [51][52] While it is against the law to pay a ransom, according to criminologists, at least 80% of kidnappings are not reported for fear of retaliation,[53] or because relatives prefer to negotiate, hoping the hostage will be released and fearing they will be killed if authorities are contacted. [1], While Venezuelans were suffering from shortages in Venezuela, the occasional looting of trucks full of goods became more common in the country with the robberies being committed by criminal gangs. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded. Crime and Scams in Venezuela: What You Need To Know - World Nomads We have provided a few examples below that you can copy and paste to your site: Your data export is now complete. [40][41] The cover ups were possibly performed following an El Nacional cover story showing piles of corpses scattered throughout a morgue in Venezuela. Between 1998-2006, there were 90.027 of murders in Venezuela. '98% Impunity Rate in Venezuela': Opposition - InSight Crime In 2012, La Planta, a prison built in 1964 with a capacity of 350 inmates, held almost 2,500 inmates with many armed with heavy weapons. [108] As a result of the high levels of crime, Venezuelans were forced to change their ways of life due to the large insecurities they continuously experienced. Venezuela Crime Stats: NationMaster.com Venezuela crime rate & statistics for 2016 was 58.31, a 12.06% increase from 2015. In the last 25 years, the rate of violent crime in the US has fallen dramatically. Venezuela murder rate dips, partly due to migration - Reuters By comparison, the United States' current rate is about 4.7 deaths per 100,000. The judicial system is composed of the Supreme Court, superior courts, trial courts, and special courts. [66][67][68] One informant stated that the two would often fly out of Terminal 4 of Simon Bolivar International Airport, a terminal reserved for the president. From organized crime to tap water, there are a few things to look out for when traveling Venezuela. Venezuela | World Prison Brief [109] 2014 Gallup polls showed that only 19% of Venezuelans felt safe walking alone at night, with nearly one quarter of the respondents stating that they or a household member had money stolen from them in the past year. Venezuela Crisis: Murder Rate Peaks Amid State of Emergency - Time In the wake of a gun ban, Venezuela sees rising homicide rate [104] The Metropolitan Police force in Caracas was so corrupt that it was accused of assisting some of the 17,000 kidnappings. statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account. The Poverty Behind Venezuela's Soaring Crime Rate An overview of the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, which has one of the highest crime rates, July 29, 2015. Crime in Venezuela is widespread, with violent crimes such as murder and kidnapping increasing annually. [citation needed] The United States State Department and the Government of Canada have warned foreign visitors that they may be subjected to armed robbery, kidnapping and murder. You only have access to basic statistics. In 2015, Caracas, Venezuela, had a homicide rate of 75 per 100,000 inhabitants, which made it one of the most violent cities in the world that year. Venezuela Faces Crime Epidemic : NPR [130][dead link] The majority of Venezuelans also believed that there was a poor due process of law while also thinking that the criminal justice system was not timely and judgement was ineffective. Venezuelan cities with the highest homicide rates 2020 | Statista More than 11,000 murders were reported in 2003, as compared with only 2,000 in 1991. Victims do not have a role in sentencing unless they initiate the prosecution. Express kidnappings (secuestro express) have become more common than traditional kidnappings. By the end of last year, prices were doubling . Venezuela has been in an economic crisis since the election of Hugo Chavez in 1998 when the country's oil-based socialist economy began to rapidly decline.