Homicides in the Caribbean: How Bad Is It Getting?

2024 data indicates that the Caribbean kept its position as one of the most violent areas in the region, as arms trafficking and gang violence continued to hit countries there hard. Suriname was the nation with the largest growth in its homicide rate, with an increase of nearly 400%. Although violence there is high, the sharp increase in murders seems to be linked to an escalation in violent petty offenses rather than organized crime.

Next up is Turks and Caicos, which registered the highest homicide rate in the region. Besides firearms and narcotics smuggling being main drivers for organized crime, the island faces logistical and technological obstacles in solving homicides. Jamaica and the Dominican Republic were exceptions in the Caribbean, registering decreases in their homicide rates. Jamaica had its lowest murder rate in a decade last year, even though it remains a violent country. In the Dominican Republic, 2024 was the third consecutive year of a declining murder rate.

The upcoming InSight Crime event will explore how organized crime has impacted homicide trends in each country and provide insights into our methodology for tracking murder rates.

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