The Global Peace Index 2024 ranked 163 independent states and territories based on their level of peacefulness. In 2024, Argentina scored 1.86 out of 5 points, placing the country in the 47th position in the global rank, and in 1st place within Latin America and the Caribbean. Uruguay and Costa Rica were ranked 2nd and 3rd in the region with 1.89 and 1.95 points, respectively.

Uruguay's tourist safety and security obtained the highest score among Latin American countries studied in the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) in 2021. By contrast, Mexico got the lowest rate that year.

In 2021, Mexico was the Latin American country with the highest overall Global Health Security (GHS) Index score, with 57 points out of a total of 100. In comparison, the United States, the best-rated country worldwide, had a score of 75.9. The Global Health Security Index measures a country's readiness to prevent, detect and respond to biological threats.

In 2024, the highest homicide rate among 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries surveyed was in Haiti, with around 62 murders committed per 100,000 inhabitants. Trinidad and Tobago came in second, with a homicide rate of 46, while Honduras ranked seventh, with 25. In the same year, the lowest rate was recorded in El Salvador, with a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. A violence-ridden region Violence and crime are some of the most pressing problems affecting Latin American society nowadays. More than 40 of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world are located in this region, as well as one of the twenty countries with the least peace in the world according to the Global Peace Index. Despite governments’ large spending on security and high imprisonment rates, drug and weapon trafficking, organized crime, and gangs have turned violence into an epidemic that affects the whole region and a solution to this issue appears to be hardly attainable. The cost of violence in Mexico Mexico stands out as an example of the great cost that violence inflicts upon a country, since beyond claiming human lives, it also affects everyday life and has a negative impact on the economy. Mexicans have a high perceived level of insecurity, as they do not only fear becoming victims of homicide, but also of other common crimes, such as assault or rape. Such fear prevents people from performing everyday activities, for instance, going out at night, taking a taxi or going to the movies or the theater. Furthermore, the economic toll of violence in Mexico is more than considerable. For example, the cost of homicide and violent crime amounted to 2099.8 and 1778.1 billion Mexican pesos in 2023, respectively.

Uruguay was rated the safest Latin American country for LGBT tourists in 2023, scoring 11 points. Following in the ranking were Argentina and Colombia, which rated nine points. In the Caribbean region, Cuba, Guadeloupe, and Martinique ranked for the top three places as the safest travel destinations for this group of travelers.

In 2021, Colombia had the highest digital civility index score among the Latin American countries surveyed, with an ** percent rate. That means the perception of civility in online environments was worst in the country. Meanwhile, Chile scored ** percent, therefore featuring the lowest risk of online incivility in the region. Still, the index score has declined in Colombia in seven percentage points from the previous year, where it has reached the second worst value registered so far.

In 2025, Trinidad and Tobago had the highest press freedom score among countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Caribbean nation scored ***** points on a scale from 1 to 100. Jamaica followed with a score of ***** points. The index presents an overview of the plurality and independence of the media and how safe and free it is for journalists to do their job, with lower scores indicating a worse situation for the press and higher scores a better one. Press freedom laggards in the LATAM region Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, and Honduras had the worst results in the region in 2025 - their scores stood below ** points. Unsurprisingly, due to the political situation in these four countries, journalism there experiences high restrictions imposed by the governments in order to stifle access to information. In one country, private press is actually prohibited by constitution – for that reason Cuba has seen only the lowest press freedom scores year after year. Honduras, one of the lowest-ranked countries on the index, has been noted to see declining press freedom scores since the coup d’etat in 2009. All in all, it comes as no surprise that trust in mass media in Latin America keeps deteriorating. Dangers of being a journalist in Latin America Mexico is considered the most dangerous country for journalist as it ranks high in terms of number of deaths not only in the Latin America region, but also the highest in the world. In 2022, Mexico was found to be the deadliest country for journalists worldwide, with more than ** representatives of the press being killed that year. Although the number dropped to * killings in 2024, the country still regularly ranks among the riskiest for media professionals. Colombia follows in the regional ranking, yet its figures remain significantly lower than those reported in Mexico.

In 2020, Uruguayans had the highest confidence in their local police forces among Latin American and Caribbean countries. With ** percent of adults having confidence in the police, El Salvador ranked second. On the flip side, merely a ****** of adult Venezuelans trusted the local police.

In 2025, Brazil received a GPI score of ****, a slight decrease compared with the previous year. The score placed the South American country in the ***** position out of 163 countries included in the global ranking. Regionally, Brazil occupied one of the bottom places in the Latin American peace index ranking.

In 2021, Peru was the Latin American country with the highest Global Health Security (GHS) Index score in the category of health system, with 71.7 points out of a total of 100. In comparison, the United States, the best-rated country worldwide, had a score of 75.2. The Global Health Security Index measures a country's readiness to prevent, detect and respond to biological threats. The health system category measures the sufficiency and robustness of a country's health sector.

In 2021, Chile was the Latin American country with the highest overall Global Health Security (GHS) Index score in the category of detection, with 58.1 points out of a total of 100. In comparison, Thailand, the best-rated country worldwide, had a score of 91.5. The Global Health Security Index measures a country's readiness to prevent, detect and respond to biological threats.

In 2024, there were approximately 1.9 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in El Salvador. Since 2015, when it stood at 103, the murder rate has been dropping annually in this Central American country. Crime current state The region has witnessed a substantial reduction in the number of homicides since 2015, resulting in the most common crimes becoming increasingly more centered on non-lethal offenses and material-related transgressions, which now pose the most prevalent threats. This shift is equally apparent across both genders, with the rate of femicides steadily declining, paralleling a consistent decrease in overall victimization rates. Consequently, El Salvador achieved the ranking of the third safest country within the Latin American homicide rate context. Notwithstanding these notable improvements, a lingering sense of caution endures among the populace, as nearly half of them remain apprehensive about the prospect of falling victim to criminal activities. Main economic problems Following an extended phase marked by elevated inflation, the region continues to grapple with challenges in its efforts to recover. The impact has been most pronounced on the prices of essential food items, rendering them increasingly unaffordable for a population where approximately 20 percent live under poverty conditions. Furthermore, the unemployment rate persists, with one out of every two individuals still seeking employment opportunities. A significant proportion, approximately 60 percent, remain apprehensive about job loss, recognizing the subsequent loss of their primary income source. In response, the government is envisaging an enhancement in both the employment rate and the GDP, albeit with a gradual recovery trajectory following the substantial downturn experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI+), commonly known as "riesgo país" in Spanish speaking countries, is a weighted capitalization market benchmark that measures the financial returns obtained each day by a selected portfolio of government bonds from emerging countries. It is measured in base points, which reflect the difference between the return rates paid by emerging countries' government bonds and those offered by U.S. government securities, considered a safety benchmark. In 2023, Venezuela had the highest EMBIG, amounting to more than 21,422 points. Bolivia followed second, with an index of over 2,200. In the same period, the Latin American economies with the lowest sovereign risk was Uruguay and Chile, with EMBIG levels below 140 basis points.

In 2024, Nicaragua received a GPI score of ***, a slight increase in the score compared with the previous year. The score placed the Central American country in the ***** position out of 163 countries included in the global rank. Regionally, Nicaragua was among the bottom with other countries in Latin America.

In 2024, Chile received a GPI score of ****, a decrease in the score compared with the previous year. The score placed the South American country in the **** position out of 163 countries included in the global rank. Regionally, Chile occupied one of the highest places, being one of the most peaceful countries in Latin America that year.

With a Global Health security (GHS) Index score of 64.8 (out of 100) in the category rapid response, Mexico is the Latin American country with the highest ability to react and mitigate the spread of an epidemic or pandemic. In comparison, Finland, the best-rated country worldwide, had a score of 70.7. The Global Health Security Index measures a country's readiness to prevent, detect and respond to biological threats.

In 2025, Pietermaritzburg in South Africa ranked as the world's most dangerous city with a crime rate of 82 per 100,000 inhabitants. Five of the 10 cities with the highest crime rates worldwide are found in South Africa. The list does not include countries where war and conflict exist. South Africa dominates crime statistics When looking at crime rates, among the 10 most dangerous cities in the world, half of them are found in South Africa. The country is struggling with extremely high levels of inequality, and is struggling with high levels of crime and power outages, harming the country's economy and driving more people into unemployment and poverty. Crime in Latin America On the other hand, when looking at murder rates, Latin America dominates the list of the world's most dangerous countries. Violence in Latin America is caused in great part by drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and gang wars.

Chile's overall Global Health Security (GHS) Index score in 2021 was 56.2 out of 100 points, with 100 being the most favorable available score. The Latin American country was best rated for its risk environment, with a total of 66.2 points. Among the categories analyzed, prevention was ranked the lowest, with a score of 47.2 index points.

Ecuador's overall Global Health Security (GHS) Index score in 2021 was **** out of 100 points, with 100 being the most favorable available score. The Latin American country was best rated for its health system, with a total of **** points. Among the categories analyzed, rapid response was ranked the lowest, with a score of ** index points.

Mexico's overall Global Health Security (GHS) Index score in 2021 was 57 out of 100 points, with 100 being the most favorable available score. The Latin American country was best rated for its compliance with international norms, with a total of 68.1 points. Among the categories analyzed, prevention was ranked the lowest, with a score of 41.9 index points.