El Salvador

Key Data

• In El Salvador, the 2021 homicide rate per 100,000 population was the lowest registered in the last decade.
• In 2021, the downward trend in violent deaths of women reversed for the first time since 2016
• Feminicide rose by seven victims with respect to the previous year
• Male homicide registered a 15.2% decrease, but female victims of homicidal violence increased by 1.5%
• Almost seven in ten homicides were committed with a firearm
• Some 24 municipalities accounted for over 50% of homicides in 2021
• One in two victims of homicide was registered in the departments of San Salvador, La Libertad and Sonsonate.
• Reported cases of disappearance increased by 18.9% more than in 2020. The upturn was sharper among females (26.2%) than males (15.1%). 47.5% of these cases involved people under 25 years of age.
• Reports of sexual violence increased by 30.3% in relation to 2020. 90% of the victims were female.
• Every day there were four reports of intrafamily violence, for a 15.1% increase. Nine in ten victims were women and girls.

Sources: Working Group on Homicide Facts and Figures (2010-2021), DIGESTYC (now BCR), PNC-UAIP, FGR