2009 Murder Statistics: U.S. Visitors to Latin America

Out of the approximately 2.5 million U.S. visitors to Mexico in the first half of 2009, at least 126 Americans died of non-natural causes, according to U.S. State Department statistics.

The Los Angeles Times points out that, of these, there were:

• 36 homicides, and
• 22 drownings.

The balance of the non-natural deaths resulted from accidents and suicides.

Wend Magazine analyzed the State Department’s non-natural death statistics and compiled a list of the “top five deadliest countries.“  Mexico topped the list. Joining it were two other Latin American countries: Costa Rica with 16 deaths and Honduras with 14 deaths. It’s worth noting that 10 of the 14 deaths in Honduras were homicides, while there was only one homicide in Costa Rica.

Here is how Americans fared in the other Latin American countries during the first half of 2009:

• Argentina: 6 deaths (no homicides)
• Bolivia: no deaths recorded
• Brazil: 2 deaths (1 homicide)
• Chile: 2 deaths (both accidents)
• Colombia: 6 deaths (5 homicides)
• Cuba: 2 deaths (both accidents)
• Dominican Republic: 14 deaths (4 homicides)
• Ecuador: 3 deaths (1 homicide)
• El Salvador: 8 deaths (2 homicides)
• Guatemala: 7 deaths (4 homicides)
• Nicaragua: 2 deaths (no homicides)
• Panama: 3 deaths (2 homicides)
• Paraguay: no record
• Peru: 6 deaths (1 homicide)
• Uruguay: 2 deaths (no homicides)
• Venezuela: 3 deaths (2 homicides)

The U.S. State Department notes that its figures should not be considered a statistically complete account of U.S. citizen deaths in foreign countries during the reporting period. Only those deaths reported to U.S. State Department and deaths that can be established as non-natural are included.

Photo by Kevin Dooley (Via Creative Commons)