Let\u2019s be candid. If you are thinking of a global relocation anywhere in the world, the issue of crime and safety will be on your mind.\u00a0 Almost every \u201chome country\u201d will have tales about \u201cthe crime that occurs over there,\u201d with little thought often given to the crime that occurs around the corner.\u00a0 The point is that crime is relative.\u00a0 The same, for example, U.S. State Department brief that provides dire warnings of travel globally, often fails to consider how that same report might read if drafted about the City of Chicago, the current murder capitol of the USA and, yet, one of the world\u2019s most popular tourism cities.\u00a0 In the end, it is all relative and this leads us to the question, is Ecuador safe ?<\/p>\n
By almost every measure of comparative statistical crime analysis, the simple answer is…very safe.\u00a0 Keep in mind that each crime stat comparative study treats data differently.\u00a0 There can often be contradictions across studies covering the same crime subject matter.\u00a0 Still, let\u2019s start with a general overview.<\/p>\n
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In one of the most exhaustive and diverse global crime studies, the \u201cCrime Per-Capita World Rankings\u201d, the country of Ecuador does not even appear in the \u201cTop 100\u201d crimes per capita nations listed.\u00a0 This study is cumulative of all crime categories.\u00a0 At the top of the list in the report is the USA, with the highest total global crime per capita.\u00a0 The UK and Germany quickly round up the top 3 countries, with France and Russia coming in #4 and #5.\u00a0 In South America, one immediately notes Argentina in at #15, Venezuela in at #34 and Peru in at #38, but, no Ecuador.<\/p>\n
The Mexico based and globally respected Instituto de Seguridad, Justicia y Paz (The Institute for Security, Justice and Peace) conducted a 2012 study on the 50 most violent cities in the world.\u00a0 Zero Ecuador cities appear on its dubious list.\u00a0 The USA ranks in the study with New Orleans listed at #21, Detroit at #30, St. Louis at #43 and Baltimore at #48.\u00a0 Again, this is solely violent crime per capita.\u00a0 Proving the lack of bias in the report, the Institute\u2019s home country of Mexico is listed on several occasions, with Ju\u00e1rez at #2, Acapulco at #4 and Torre\u00f3n at #8.\u00a0 In fact, a total of 5 Mexican cities are found in the top ten results. San Pedro Sula in Honduras is rated #1 and Mace\u00edo in Brazil round out the top 3.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its recent yearly analysis of assaults per capita, on a global basis, grouped regionally.\u00a0 In South America, only Paraguay ranks lower than Ecuador in assaults per capita, although a lengthier, more historical analysis draws Bolivia into a dead heat tie with Ecuador for the second fewest assaults per capita (Paraguay retains its top ranking).<\/p>\n
The same aforementioned UN office also released its sexual violence crime report, similarly grouped by geographic region and also covering the globe.\u00a0 Ecuador had the second lowest South American incident of sexual violence, after Bolivia.\u00a0 Chile performed the worst, showing the highest number of sexual violence incidents, for South America.<\/p>\n
In fact, the UNODC also commented on Ecuador from the perspective of the entity\u2019s core mandate – the drug trade.\u00a0 According to UNODC, \u201cEcuador remains a country with no discernible incidence of drug crops, despite its location between drug producers…\u201d Additionally, it is further noted, “The results to date show that Ecuador has taken positive steps that don\u2019t allow these crops to have an impact on the country,” said Flavio Mirella, Ecuador and Peru\u2019s representative to the UNODC.<\/p>\n
Regardless of whether you look at an all-inclusive global crime study, a regional analysis, or a comparative study of specific crime categories, Ecuador ranks very well as a relatively low per-capita crime nation.\u00a0 Even the more anecdotal data on Ecuador\u2019s drug interdiction, offered by the UNODC, shows a nation that is relatively drug free and, hence, free of much of the criminal element that follows the drug trade.<\/p>\n
Does this mean that Ecuador is free of crime? Of course not. As an example, there is one major crime category in which Ecuador does not excel.\u00a0 In the important homicide category, Ecuador ranks middle of the road compared to other specific South American countries.\u00a0 For example, while Brazil, Venezuela and Peru all have a higher homicide rate, countries such as Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay and even Argentina have a lower homicide rate.<\/p>\n
Why does Ecuador \u201cstick out\u201d in this one sole violent category.\u00a0 Any response is pure speculation.\u00a0 However, one answer may be found in Ecuador\u2019s propensity to often resolve family \u201cblood feuds\u201d with the hiring of \u201csicarios\u201d. Sicarios are, quite literally, gunmen for hire.\u00a0 While the stories one hears are often from central city newspapers, a closer look at the homicide by sicario data will show that on a per-capita basis, more homicides occur in rural areas, where families settle feuds in the way of the Hatfields and McCoys.\u00a0 This could possibly explain this bizarre, single-category violent crime anomaly.<\/p>\n
However, even within this sub-sector crime category, in which Ecuador does not fare as well as in all others, a comparative perspective is required.\u00a0 Let\u2019s look at Guayaquil, generally considered Ecuador\u2019s most violent city, and the City of Chicago (my hometown), in the USA.\u00a0 Data will be presented broken down to manageable, tangible numbers.<\/p>\n
In an average week, Guayaquil will see 6 homicides.\u00a0 During that same week, Chicago will see 8 homicides.\u00a0 In other violent crime stats, Guayaquil will see an average of 10 rapes per week, while Chicago will see 23. Guayaquil will have 16 burglaries, while Chicago will have 542 in any given week and car thefts will number 42\/week in Guayaquil and 316\/week in Chicago.\u00a0 In short, if you feel relatively safe in Chicago, you will feel the same in Guayaquil, only more so.<\/p>\n
That really becomes the focal point for crime analysis.\u00a0 All the statistics in the world will cease to exist, if you are personally victimized.\u00a0 Psychological studies indicate that perception of crime, as opposed to statistical reality, is often driven by an individual\u2019s personal life experience with crime.\u00a0 As such, only each individual can perceive whether Ecuador is \u201csafe enough\u201d for them.\u00a0 Factors such as different cities, different neighborhoods and an individuals personal lifestyle can significantly impact how likely they are to come face-to-face with crime, in Ecuador…or anywhere else.\u00a0 Strolling down a back-alley at 4:00 AM, slightly inebriated, while visiting Guayaquil is more likely to make you a victim of crime, than an afternoon walk, down the vaunted Salinas Malec\u00f3n (Boardwalk), where crime is near imperceptible.<\/p>\n
At end of the day, is Ecuador safe?\u00a0 Statistically…yes.\u00a0 From my personal life perspective and observations, borne out of 25 years of doing business here regularly and having lived here full-time for more than 4 years…yes.\u00a0 Still, nothing will replace your own personal safety observations and life experiences, like putting boots on the ground and visiting Ecuador.\u00a0 Make your own observations and decisions.\u00a0 I think most of you will be very pleasantly surprised.<\/p>\n
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