El Salvador crime decline under Bukele

In July 2026, President Nayib Bukele reported that El Salvador’s homicide rate fell to a historic low of 0.90 per 100,000, with only 30 killings recorded to early July. This continued a steady downward trend that began in 2015, when the country saw more than 6,600 homicides, and reflected the administration’s security strategy aimed at making the nation the safest in the world.

A week later, during the early August holiday period, authorities noted 12 deaths, a 25 % drop from the same period a year earlier, most of which were traffic‑related. The civil protection agency recorded 208 road incidents and a 40 % rise in arrests for dangerous driving. In August, three homicides were reported, including a stabbing case that led to a suspect’s surrender. While overall violent crime remained at historically low levels, the data highlighted a shift toward non‑violent fatalities such as traffic accidents and fires.

Data from the civil protection agency for the first five days of the August vacation (August 1‑5) showed 16 deaths, including two drownings—one in a maritime accident at El Bajón inlet and another in a pool—and 14 traffic‑related fatalities. The agency responded to 259 traffic accidents (down from 315 a year earlier) and recorded 34 fire incidents, with brush‑fire reports rising from four to 13. Police detained 48 drivers for dangerous conduct, and more than 100 000 first‑response personnel remained deployed nationwide.

Together, the snapshots illustrate that El Salvador’s homicide numbers have continued to decline after reaching a record low, while other causes of death have become more prominent in official statistics.