The age of criminal responsibility is 18 years. Safety and security - Venezuela travel advice - GOV.UK 25 Years Population Growth Rate 1.44% Sex Ratio 0-14 Years - male/female 1.04 Sex Ratio 15-24 Years - male/female 1.01 Sex Ratio 25-54 Years - male/female . Venezuela - The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 1959 . In 2019, the murder rate declined significantly to 60.3. Venezuela has 'world's highest murder rate' - YouTube In the areas where most kidnappings occur, the government set up so-called "peace zones" where official police withdrew and criminal gangs took over;[51] according to NBC News, "experts say the government has armed these groups [who] control large territories, financed through extortion and the drug trade". Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - 36.54. The mass release, however, quickly overwhelmed the capacity of police to maintain order. [78], At least 80% of kidnappings occur in a limited area around Caracas and including Miranda State. Venezuela crime soars amid declining poverty - Al Jazeera Murder Rate By Country - WorldAtlas The facility had been overcrowded by more than three times its designed capacity.[147]. Well armed criminal gangs operate with impunity, often setting up fake police checkpoints. 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. [50] According to Anthony Daqun, former adviser to the Minister of Interior and Justice of Venezuela, "[s]taff of the Directorate of Military Counterintelligence and SEBIN (Bolivarian National Intelligence Service) operate these bands kidnapping and extortion". Statistics | City of Merced, CA [118], In 2008, the National Assembly passed the Law Against Kidnapping and Extortion (Ley contra el Secuestro y la Extorsin), a law that imposes penalties of up to 30 years in prison to address a kidnapping situation that was not covered by a specific law. [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. [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. The Observatory placed Venezuela's homicide rate for 2014 at 82 per 100,000, with a total of 24,980 killings recorded for the year. According to the BBC article, 4 of 5 kidnappings are express kidnappings which are not included in government statistics. [5] In the 1950s, the rapid urbanization of the population saw some rises in violent crime. Latin America & Caribbean: homicide rate 2022, by country, Latin America & Caribbean: intentional homicide rate 2020, by country. From 2019 to 2020, the population change was -0.28%. Every Caracas neighborhood is susceptible to crime. There's a lot of poverty in the country, which can lead to desperate measures taken by some people. This high crime rate is due to the high levels of poverty and violence in Venezuela. [26], Venezuela is currently among the countries with the highest murder rates in the world. [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. According to a victimization survey conducted by Venezuela's National Institute of Statistics, in the year leading up to July 2009, 46 kidnappings took place every day in Venezuela, a much . . Venezuela Crime Rate & Statistics 1990-2023, Venezuela crime rate & statistics for 2017 was, Venezuela crime rate & statistics for 2016 was, Venezuela crime rate & statistics for 2015 was, Venezuela crime rate & statistics for 2014 was. [48], On 13 May 2013, President Nicolas Maduro initiated Plan Patria Segura saying "we have decided to fight to build a secure homeland". Venezuela Drug Addiction Problem - Narconon International Data prior to 2022 were retrieved from previous releases of the publication. Crimes are classified according to crimes against national security, administration of justice, public order, public trust, preservation of public and private interests, the family and public morals, and civilian property. In Venezuela, debate and discussion is not what the government is interested in, they want only loyalty. [32][33], The OVV puts the homicide rate for 2013 at approximately 79 per 100,000[27] and the murder rate in the capital Caracas at 122 per 100,000 residents. [85] Human Rights Watch described colectivos as "armed gangs who use violence with impunity" to harass political opponents of the Venezuelan government. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Overview and forecasts on trending topics, Industry and market insights and forecasts, Key figures and rankings about companies and products, Consumer and brand insights and preferences in various industries, Detailed information about political and social topics, All key figures about countries and regions, Market forecast and expert KPIs for 600+ segments in 150+ countries, Insights on consumer attitudes and behavior worldwide, Business information on 60m+ public and private companies, Detailed information for 35,000+ online stores and marketplaces. [1][2][3][4] #ga-ad {display: none;} Venezuela's violent crime fuels the death business | Reuters [5] The Bolivarian government then believed that violence and crime were due to poverty and inequality, though while the government boasted about reducing both poverty and inequality, the murder rate continued to increase in Venezuela. 32 references, 810 Seventh Street NW, Washington, DC 20531, United States, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, United States, Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000, United States. All of this is done while driving the victim around the city for several hours. Venezuela Crime Rate & Statistics 1990-2023 | MacroTrends 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. Home invasions and other complex crimes are well planned and involve the use of a person with inside knowledge or a scam (such as impersonating police, delivery personnel, or utility company personnel) to gain access. The best of the best: the portal for top lists & rankings: Strategy and business building for the data-driven economy: Show sources information [69][70][71][72][73][74], According to the Trafficking in Persons Report 2014 by the State Department of the United States, "Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor". Express kidnappings (secuestro express) have become more common than traditional kidnappings. The staggering crime figures released by the Venezuelan government do not do justice to the actual number of murders committed in the country, because the government's figures do not include "deaths of unknown cause" nor "deaths from resisting authority." Only a very small percentage of criminals are tried and convicted. [28][31] PROVEA figures provided in the UN's 2014 Global Homicide Book put Venezuela's homicide rate at 53.7 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012, closer to the Venezuelan government's 2012 estimate,[29] but still the second highest peacetime murder rate in the world after Honduras (estimated at 90.4). Caracas, Venezuela reputedly has a murder rate over 100 per 100,000. [81] Chvez eliminated the Metropolitan Police in 2011, turning security over to the colectivos in some Caracas barrios. [15] The U.S. Bureau of Diplomatic Security stated that there were 73 daily violent deaths in 2018. [56] According to Interpol, the files found by Colombian forces were considered to be authentic. [Online]. Venezuela crime soars amid declining poverty. [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. Venezuelan authorities claimed the incident was an escape attempt by inmates, while the Venezuelan Prison Observatory noted the inmates were angry over insufficient food and water and called for an investigation. '98% Impunity Rate in Venezuela': Opposition - InSight Crime Fauna crime is spurred by demand from the US, China and Europe. Crime rates in Valenzuela, Philippines. Statisticians and police have openly stated that only 30-40% of all kidnappings get reported to the police. . [40][41] It was also reported that police would intercept the families of the victims and take them to the library of the University Institute of the Scientific Police (IUPOLC) where authorities offered families ways to "streamline procedures and advise them not to give information to the press in return for their aid". The crime rate in the United State is 47.77 which is more than 55 countries. Much like Valencia, Maracaibo offers a big city feel but has a bit of a higher crime rate. [142], In Venezuelan prisons, inmates partake in gladiatorial matches to settle disputes. Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header. Sentences frequently were light, and convictions often were overturned on appeal. [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. Level of crime: 93.11: Very High: Crime increasing in the past 3 years: 86.72: Very High: Worries home broken and things stolen: 76.20: High: Worries being mugged or robbed . Year End Reports. [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. Show publisher information [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]. What's behind Venezuela's violent crime problem? - Al Jazeera Despite the introduction of the new law, the majority of cases are not resolved and only received the Venezuelan government's attention in high-profile cases. [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. It is estimated that Venezuela's population will reach its peak of 35.57 million by 2063. Over 90 percent of homicides in Venezuela go unpunished. February 8, 2023. 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. [92] According to the International Crisis Group, colectivos may be involved in drug trafficking, arms dealing, and car theft. [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. [130][dead link], Venezuelan prisons are led by "pranes" or criminal bosses that operate while jailed. Venezuelan law enforcement entities continue to look for creative policing strategies to overcome these obstacles, such as community policing base stations, motorcycle and bicycle patrols, augmenting traditional foot and vehicle policing. Venezuela crisis in brief. [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. The BBC seriously repeats the Venezuelan government's claim that the ban is . [89], Colectivos sometimes provide protection from crime in some neighborhoods they are committed to,[90] though some neighborhoods report that colectivos attack neighbors themselves. 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. [29] A non-governmental organization known as the Venezuelan Violence Observatory (OVV), which collects crime data from seven different universities around the country, provides data of homicide rates in Venezuela. [107] Petty crime such as pick-pocketing is prevalent, particularly in public transport terminals in Caracas. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Venezuela, indicating that it is unsafe to travel to the country, and travelers should not travel there. In August the attorney general's office reported that of the more than 6 thousand police officers implicated in killings during the last 5 years, only 88 were convicted. Venezuela was once the wealthiest country in South America, but in recent years millions have fled the country amid mass starvation and violence after socialist policies were enacted and . Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. [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. 10. Venezuela Honduras Afghanistan Mexico The top 5 most dangerous states are: 01 Distrito Capital 02 Miranda Ciudad Jurez 03 Zulia 04 Carabobo San Pedro Kandahar 05 Aragua Sula Caracas Caracas (*) located in the "Distrito Capital" has the 2nd greatest murder rate of any large city in . Human rights groups suggest that the government's policing efforts are too "timid". [139] According to Alessio Bruni of the United Nations Committee against Torture, "a typical problem of the prison system is gun violence, nearly circulating freely within prisons, causing hundreds and hundreds of people killed every year" with the UN committee alarmed at reports that between 2004 and 2014, 4,791 inmates were killed and 9,931 injured. Most kidnappings occur around "peace zones" where official police withdrew and gangs took over;[51] according to NBC News, "experts say the government has armed these groups [who] control large territories, financed through extortion and the drug trade". [41][46][47] According to the leaked INE report, only 1,332 investigations for kidnappings were opened or about 7% of the total kidnapping cases, with 90% of the kidnappings happening away from rural areas, 80% of all being express kidnappings and the most common victim being lower-middle or middle class Venezuelans and middle-aged men. South Africa - 36.40. But drug interdiction efforts and law enforcement pressure . More than 330 police officers were murdered across Venezuela last year, . [15] The murder rate declined even further to 60.3 in 2019. Venezuela ranks fourth in the world for cocaine seizures, behind Colombia, the United States, and Panama. Crime in Venezuela is widespread, with violent crimes such as murder and kidnapping increasing annually. [18] The Bolivarian Revolution attempted to "destroy what previously existed, the status quo of society" with instability increasing. 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. An overview of the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, which has one of the highest crime rates, July 29, 2015. Use Ask Statista Research Service. [136], The Acarigua prison riot in 2019, left 29 prisoners dead, and 19 guards injured. While the police will generally respond to an emergency situation, investigative follow-up is intermittent and perpetrators of crime are rarely caught. 10 Safest Cities in Venezuela (2023 Updated) - Travel Safe [132], There are a total of 34 prisons in Venezuela holding about 50,000 inmates. Members of the security forces charged with or convicted of crimes rarely were imprisoned. World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems: Venezuela 18 December 2020. [80] In 2006, they received arms and funding from the state when they were brought under the government's community councils. He also explained that prison are controlled by gangs and that "very little has been done" to control them. [138], In Venezuelan prisons, there are reports of prisoners having easy access to firearms, drugs and alcohol. Homicide rate in Venezuela 2022 | Statista 24,000 murders last year confirm Venezuela as one of the world's most 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. Investigation of all crime is haphazard and ineffective. [1], Crime has also continued to increase under Chvez's successor, President Nicols Maduro, who continued Chvez's policies that disrupted Venezuela's socioeconomic status. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. United States vs Venezuela Crime Stats Compared - NationMaster People avoid being out "Homicide Rate in Venezuela from 2014 to 2022 (in Number of Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants). [13][14], In spite of significant socioeconomic problems, the murder rate in Venezuela decreased between 2017 and 2020. [24], The U.S. Bureau of Diplomatic Security says most of the violence comes from organized street gangs, and attributes criminal activity to four factors: "often corrupt" underpaid police, an "inefficient and politicized judicial system", problems in the prison system, and widespread availability of weapons. No one else has these. Use of internet and mobile phones are also a commonplace where criminals can take part in street crime while in prison. Most violent crimes in Caracas, especially murder, involve firearms. [58][59] According to Greg Palast, the claim about Chavez's $300 million is based on the following (translated) sentence: "With relation to the 300, which from now on we will call 'dossier', efforts are now going forward at the instructions of the cojo [slang term for 'cripple'], which I will explain in a separate note." Crime rates in Venezuela. Millions of people have been pushed into poverty as a result of the country's years-long crisis. [95] As blackouts continued, on 31 March, citizens protested the lack of electricity and water in Caracas and other cities; Maduro called again on the colectivos, asking them "to defend the peace of every barrio, of every block". Venezuela - 36.69. In 2011, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States denounced the practice of "The Coliseum" saying "The Commission reiterates to the State the need to take immediate and effective steps to prevent such incidents from happening again" after two inmates died and 54 more were injured from these practices. [132], Venezuelan rights groups report that the 34 prisons in Venezuela hold 50,000 people but are only supposed to hold about one-third of that. In the year 2000, the rate was only 58 per 100,000 people. Maracaibo has a crime index of 83.25 and a safety index of 16.75, which is still lower than Caracas and many other big cities - but it might be a bit higher than you're willing to face. [51] At least 80% of kidnappings occur in a limited area around Caracas and including Miranda State. Crime Information Venezuela and its capital, Caracas, have among the highest per capita murder rates in the world. Homicide rate in Venezuela from 2014 to 2022 (in number of homicides per 100,000 inhabitants) [Graph]. [citation needed] This is due to Venezuela's economic problems. [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. [121] Some have criticized Plan Patria Segura calling it a failure after crime continued to increase following its implementation. Retrieved from, Last edited on 14 December 2022, at 22:16, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Minister of the Popular Power for Interior, Justice and Peace, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, "Latin America Scores Lowest on Security", "Venezuela es el pas ms inseguro del mundo, segn un estudio", "With 28,479 killings, Venezuela takes second spot on world murder ranking", "Tres fases de la violencia homicida en Venezuela", "Chavez leaves Venezuelan economy more equal, less stable", "For Venezuela, Drop In Global Oil Prices Could Be Catastrophic", "Why Venezuelans worry more about food than crime", "Looting and violence on the rise in Venezuela supermarkets", "On Venezuela's highways, a disabled truck increasingly means a looted truck", "Venezuela murder rate dips, partly due to migration: monitoring group", "Venezuela, otra vez el pas ms peligroso de Amrica Latina: registr 16.506 muertes violentas en 2019", "Venezuelan beauty queen gets carjacked at gunpoint", "Venezuelans regret gun ban, 'a declaration of war against an unarmed population', "Crime is so bad in Venezuela that even soldiers were ordered to avoid driving at night", "Los venezolanos creen vivir en el pas ms peligroso del mundo", "Reports of kidnapping in Venezuela nearly double in 2016", "Venezuela rocked by killing of beauty queen Monica Spear", "Venezuela se desangra: rcord de homicidios en 2013", "Venezuela's Homicide Rate Rises, NGO's Report Says", "Venezuela, More Deadly Than Iraq, Wonders Why", "Venezuela sufre 2000 muertes violentas por mes", "Venezuela's Maduro launches civilian disarmament plan", "Observer group: Venezuelan homicide rate rose in 2015, rivaling El Salvador as world's highest", "Venezuela first among the most violent countries in LatAm", "Attorney General's UN Gaffe Reveals Venezuela's Record-High Murder Rate Violence at Epidemic Levels Based on Government's Own Figures", "Venezuela's escalating violence seen in killing of Carolina Herrera's nephew", "One in 10 girls sexually abused worldwide: UN", "Venezuela favorece a los familiares de fallecidos que no informan a la prensa", "Hubo 16,917 secuestros en 2009 en Venezuela", "SeguridadPblicayPrivada VenezuelayBolivia", "Venezuela: Gravsima Crisis de Seguridad Pblica by Lexys Rendon", "Segn el Cicpc el 2011 cerr con 1.150 secuestros en todo el pas Sucesos", "Welcome to Venezuela, the kidnap capital of the world", "Taking no prisoners in the kidnap capital of the world: On the streets of Caracas with an elite police squad", "EN EL 2009 SE COMETIERON MS DE 16.000 SECUESTROS EN VENEZUELA, SEGN EL GOBIERNO LOCAL", "Venezuela y los secuestros diarios que no se reportan", "Ubican a Venezuela en el quinto lugar en riesgo de secuestros", "For Venezuelans, Kidnappings Are Simply Business As Usual", "Agentes de inteligencia venezolanos operan bandas de secuestro y extorsin", "FARC Computer Files Are Authentic, Interpol Probe Finds", "$300 Million From Chavez to FARC a Fake", "Interpol Analysis of FARC Laptop Authenticity Will Not "Prove" Links Between Venezuela, Rebels", "Treasury Targets Venezuelan Government Officials Supporting the FARC", "National Assembly removes Justice Aponte Aponte", "Venezuelan official: Ex-judge 'sold his soul' to the DEA", "Corrupt military officials helping Venezuela drug trade flourish", "Fuente AP: Aponte Aponte est en contacto con la DEA.