Since 2022, the country has been under a state of emergency, during which time 83,000 arrests were made, dropping the murder rate to 1.9.

El Salvador recorded only 114 homicides in 2024, a record low, prompting the president to call it “the safest country in the Western Hemisphere.” The new figures — lower per capita than the US, despite a major drop there too — mark a remarkable turnaround for the country that once had the world’s highest murder rate.

El Salvador closed 2024 with just 114 homicides, marking a record low largely attributed to President Nayib Bukele's continued state of emergency. This extraordinary measure grants the government substantial powers while limiting certain rights.

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.