SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — El Salvador wraps up 2024 with a record low of 114 homicides, marking significant security progress during the second consecutive year of a state of emergency imposed to combat rampant gang violence.

President Nayib Bukele announced via the social platform X that this count, reported by the country’s Attorney General’s Office, positions El Salvador as the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere (AP News). Although data is incomplete from other nations, a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 people would put El Salvador significantly below homicide figures reported by any Latin American country in 2023.

However, the official homicide total excludes five suspected gang members killed in confrontations with law enforcement. The backdrop to this decline lies in the government’s crackdown on gang violence initiated after a massive spike in killings — with as many as 62 murders in a single day in March 2022. The congress granted extraordinary powers to Bukele's administration to enforce a state of exception, allowing for the suspension of some constitutional rights and enhanced capabilities for police to detain suspects.

Since the enforcement began, over 83,000 individuals have been arrested, with reports indicating that the majority were held without due process. To date, Bukele claims about 8,000 innocent individuals have been released from custody. Despite this, civil rights groups have documented the deaths of 354 individuals while in government custody during the crackdown.

These security improvements have contributed to Bukele’s soaring popularity, as many Salvadorans previously lived in constant fear of gang domination that involved extortion and violence. In stark contrast, the country recorded 6,656 homicides in 2015, making it one of the deadliest worldwide; by 2023, that figure had dropped to 214.

The ongoing low homicide rates have led to discussions about whether the state of emergency is still necessary, a question Bukele and his administration have not definitively addressed. The Salvadorean congress continues to renew these special powers each month, with Bukele's party holding a commanding majority.

With improved safety, residents now report being able to traverse their neighborhoods without fear, a stark shift from the earlier environment. In February 2024, Bukele further solidified his power by winning a second consecutive five-year term, which was facilitated by a supportive Supreme Court despite a constitutional ban on consecutive reelections (Los Angeles Times).