By Mark Keller, Latin Business Chronicle

Latin Business Chronicle's annual Security Index ranks 19 countries in Latin America based on relative levels of security. The index, developed with FTI Consulting and with a special focus on the business community, assigns each country a score between 1 (most safe) and 5 (most dangerous), based on information from public security secretariats, local police, governments, NGOs, and institutes of crime investigation. Countries are then ranked from No. 1 - most dangerous to No. 19 - safest.

Michoacán, Mexico

 

Mexico, Brazil Still Among More Dangerous Countries

Mexico - perhaps the most notorious center of drug-fueled violence in the hemisphere - maintained its spot at No. 5 on the Latin Security Index this year. Despite some improvements to the general security situation - including the capture of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán, head of the infamous Sinaloa cartel, and long Mexico's most-wanted man - the country seems to be dealing with the rise of citizen militias to combat insecurity, and infighting among the cartels themselves. Nevertheless, crime in Mexico remains concentrated largely in certain regions critical to the drug trade - including along the U.S.-Mexican border, and in states such as Michoacán. (Click to read LBT's story on the safety of Mexico's border cities.)

 

Latin America's other major economy - Brazil - also saw its position at No. 7 unchanged from last year. Cities in the country's northeast continue to be among the most dangerous in the world (Maceió, João Pessoa, Fortaleza, Natal, and Salvador find themselves in the top 25), and crime experienced a resurgence this year in São Paulo. Nevertheless, crime decreased in Rio de Janeiro. How the country handles its issues of insecurity is expected to become a major issue as it prepares to host the World Cup - and the Olympics in 2016.

 

Security Declines in Argentina, Nicaragua

The two countries that saw the largest declines in general security on our index were Argentina and Nicaragua. Argentina continues to be a center of major social protest and disruption, as a difficult economic situation and high inflation evoke popular anger against the government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Last year saw many protests and strikes, as well as looting and violence across many cities in the country during a police strike in December. Violent crime has also increased - mainly in greater Buenos Aires and greater Rosario - as drug cartels have increasingly entered the country.

 

Nicaragua, while long considered among the safer countries of southern Central America, seems to be succumbing to the fate of its northern neighbors. According to FTI, violent crimes were up 15% in January of 2014 compared to a year ago - a troubling trend. The government continues to invest in social inclusion policies aimed at those who could join criminal gangs.

Santiago, Chile

 

Safest Countries

Meanwhile, Costa Rica once again ranks as the safest country in Latin America - a tremendous feat given its troubled location and generally insecure neighborhood. Chile and Uruguay round out the bottom three as the safest countries in the region. These countries have relatively low levels of violent crime and homicide rates - Chile has a lower homicide rate than the United States - and professional police forces to deal with both. Uruguay legalized the controlled sale of marijuana this year in hopes it will help deal a blow to any potential profits for cartels - whether it works remains to be seen.

 

View the full Latin Business Chronicle Latin Security Index (subscription required)