El Salvador closed December 2025 with zero homicides nationwide, according to a statement shared by pro-government lawmaker Christian Guevara featuring official National Civil Police data, marking another milestone in the country’s ongoing dramatic reduction in violent crime.
The achievement contributed to a year in which preliminary figures show only around 78-80 homicides total, projecting an annual rate of approximately 1.3 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Why It Matters
El Salvador’s sharp decline in homicides represents one of the most significant drops in violent crime recorded globally in recent years, shifting the country from having one of the world’s highest murder rates to among the lowest in the Western Hemisphere. This transformation has restored a sense of security for many residents while influencing security debates across Latin America.
What to Know
The country’s homicide rate peaked at over 100 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015 but has fallen steadily since. In 2024, officials recorded 114 homicides, for a rate of 1.9 per 100,000. Data through late 2025 indicate further improvement, with sources tracking a daily average of just 0.22 homicides and projections below 1.5 per 100,000 for the full year.
Authorities credit the Territorial Control Plan, initiated in 2019, and the state of exception declared in March 2022—which has enabled mass arrests of over 84,000 suspected gang members as of early 2025—for dismantling gang structures and driving down violence.
However, the measures have drawn scrutiny from international observers. Human Rights Watch has documented at least 261 deaths in custody during the emergency period, alongside reports of arbitrary detentions, torture, and due process violations under the prolonged suspension of certain rights.
Independent analyses note that official homicide figures may exclude certain categories, such as deaths in confrontations with security forces or bodies found in mass graves.
What People Are Saying
Supporters, including lawmakers like Guevara and many citizens, hail the results as a historic renewal of safety, with President Nayib Bukele’s policies maintaining high domestic approval ratings.
Critics and human rights groups argue the gains come amid significant costs to civil liberties and judicial independence, urging greater accountability and eventual return to normal legal frameworks.
What’s Next
The state of exception remains in effect and is likely to see further extensions in 2026, as the government prioritizes sustaining low violence levels. Officials anticipate continued security improvements, while advocates push for reforms addressing prison conditions, transparency in data, and protections for due process. The approach continues to attract regional interest as other countries grapple with similar crime challenges.
