El Salvador Becomes the Safest Country in Hispanic America to Walk at Night: Nayib Bukele’s Strategy Reduces Homicides and Strengthens Authority and Public Order
Rafa Gómez-Santos Martín
El Salvador has reached an unprecedented milestone in public safety, positioning itself as the safest country in Hispanic America to walk alone at night.
A remarkable 87% of Salvadorans feel safe walking alone in their communities at night , far surpassing the regional average of 47% and even outperforming countries traditionally known for their safety, such as Uruguay, Switzerland, or Luxembourg.
This radical change is the result of public security policies implemented under President Nayib Bukele’s administration. Since the declaration of the state of exception in March 2022, the government has carried out mass arrests of suspected gang members and reinforced police and military presence, applying an unprecedented intelligence-based and territorial control approach
6 years ago, Nayib Bukele was elected President of El Salvador. One of the first things he did was ban George Soros from the country & root out his influence. Since then, El Salvador has become one of the safest places in the world. This isn’t a coincidence.
The results are striking: the homicide rate dropped from 1,147 in 2021 to 496 in 2022, with a 56.8% reduction in 2023, achieving historic records of homicide-free days — including 279 days without murders during 2024.
A country once known as the “murder capital” of Central America now ranks among the top 10 globally in safety perception.
This increase in perceived safety has had positive effects on the economy and tourism. In 2024, El Salvador welcomed nearly four million visitors, a 17% increase compared to the previous year, reflecting growing investor and tourist confidence in the nation’s stability.