Introduction: What Is a “City with Highest Crime Rates”?
Ever wondered what makes a city dangerous? When people talk about cities with highest crime rates, they mean places where bad things—like theft, carjacking, and even murders—happen more often. In this blog, we’ll explore the top 10 most dangerous cities in 2025, peek at the world’s most dangerous country, compare countries with less crime rate, and take a close look at crime rate in Washington DC and how DC crime rate by year compares to other cities.
1. Top 10 Cities with Highest Crime Rates in 2025
According to the latest Numbeo Crime Index, these are the world’s most dangerous cities in 2025:
- Pietermaritzburg, South Africa – Crime Index ~82.7
- Pretoria, South Africa – ~81.8
- Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – ~81.4
- Caracas, Venezuela
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Durban, South Africa
- San Pedro Sula, Honduras
- Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Memphis, Tennessee (USA)
- Salvador, Brazil
These cities top the charts for crime according to locals’ reports and statistics. It shows how highest crime rate world isn’t just one place—it spans continents.
2. The World’s Most Dangerous Country
If cities are bad, what about countries? The world’s most dangerous country often named is South Africa, which ranks fifth highest globally for crime—including serious violence, assault, rape, and homicide. Trouble often tracks with poverty, inequality, and gang activity.
3. Countries with Less Crime Rate: Where Are They?
Not all countries are scary. Some of the countries with less crime rate include:
- Doha (Qatar)
- Abu Dhabi (UAE)
- Taipei (Taiwan)
These places score very low on crime indexes—so low you can feel calm even walking alone at night.
4. List of the 10 Most Dangerous Cities: By Numbers
Here’s a summary table for the top 10 cities by crime index:
City | Crime Index |
Pietermaritzburg (South Africa) | 82.7 |
Pretoria (South Africa) | 81.8 |
Port Moresby (Papua N.G.) | 81.4 |
Caracas (Venezuela) | ~81.5 |
Johannesburg (South Africa) | ~80.8 |
Durban (South Africa) | ~80.6 |
San Pedro Sula (Honduras) | ~79.7 |
Port Elizabeth (South Africa) | ~78.1 |
Memphis (USA) | ~77.4 |
Salvador (Brazil) | ~76.7 |
5. The City with the Highest Crime Rate in the World
Right now, it’s Pietermaritzburg, in South Africa. Its high crime index reflects serious problems like armed robberies, gang violence, and carjackings.
6. Special Focus: Crime Rate in Washington DC
DC Crime Rate by Year & Compared to Other Cities
Let’s explore DC crime rate by year and see how it stacks up:
- 1991: A record high with 482 murders
- 2012: Dropped to 88 murders—the lowest since 1961
- 2023: Spiked to ~274 homicides (~40 per 100k), ranking 4th among U.S. cities
- 2024: Fell to 187 homicides (~27.3 per 100k)—still high, but 32% lower than 2023
- First half of 2025: Violent crime down 26%, homicide down another 12%
DC vs. Other Big Cities
Although improving, crime rate in Washington DC remains higher than in New York, Boston, or Los Angeles. That’s why media coverage reflects concern—though some argue conditions are improving.
7. Why Do Some Cities Get So Dangerous?
Common Factors:
- Poverty & inequality – Poor people may turn to crime for survival.
- Gang activity & drugs – Cartels and gangs drive violence in places like South Africa, Mexico, and Venezuela.
- Unemployment – When jobs are scarce, crime goes up.
- Weaker law enforcement or corruption – Police weaknesses help criminals act easily.
- Lack of social services – Without help for mental health or youth, crime can spread.
8. What You Should Do if Visiting High-Risk Places
- Stay alert – Especially in crowded or poor areas.
- Avoid walking alone at night – Take trusted transport.
- Keep valuables hidden – Don’t display phones or wallets.
- Use local advice – Some neighborhoods are safer than others.
- Buy travel insurance – If things go wrong, it helps.
9. Trends: Trending Keywords
To target SEO further, sprinkle these high-search, low-competition terms:
- “safe travel tips dangerous cities 2025”
- “homicide rate by city 2025”
- “crime map dangerous world cities”
- “DC violent crime comparison”
- “South Africa city crime ranking”
Final Thoughts
Summing up:
- Cities with highest crime rates include places like Pietermaritzburg, Pretoria, and Port Moresby.
- The world’s most dangerous country is often South Africa, with serious violent crime.
- You can find countries with less crime rate like Qatar, UAE, and Taiwan.
- The city with the highest crime rate in the world right now is Pietermaritzburg.
- In the U.S., crime rate in Washington DC climbed after COVID, but is clearly trending down thanks to focused efforts.
Understanding crime helps us travel smarter, support safer cities, and think about what makes a place feel secure.
Explore More on TopTenThingX
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For more top 10 lists, rankings, and interesting insights from around the world, visit our TopTenThingX and explore a wide range of categories.
FAQs
What city currently has the highest crime rate in the world?
Pietermaritzburg tops the list with a Crime Index around 82.7 in mid-2025.
Which is the most dangerous country of the world?
South Africa often ranks as the most dangerous country due to high rates of violent crime.
Are there countries with less crime rate?
Yes—countries like Qatar, UAE, and Taiwan show notably lower crime levels and are among the safest globally.
How has DC crime rate compared to other cities in recent years?
DC saw peaks in 2023 (~40 per 100,000), then fell to 27.3 per 100,000 in 2024. Still higher than NYC or L.A., but moving in the right direction.
What is the crime rate trend in Washington DC?
Since 2023, violent crime has dropped 26%, homicides down 32%, showing strong improvement so far in 2025.