The above was the headline in The News last week. The rate was given by the Attorney General of Mexico. Out of context that number meant nothing to me. I wondered how it related to the USA and Canada and a few other places worldwide. Wow, what a learning experience I've had.
The statistics I'm quoting, for the most part, were from a man named Ben Best who used statistics from Interpol. I also looked at the Bureau of Justice, USA, and a few other sites. Eyeopening to put it mildly.
For instance, the USA homicide rate for 2008 was 8.8 per 100,000. Canada's was 2.1 per 100,000. Fascinating, ehh?
Here are some other countries with the statistics being for 2003 - no data for later.
Columbia - 63 per 100,000; El Salvador - 50.2 per 100,000; Brazil - 32.5 per 100,000; Venezuela 32 per 100,000 and Ecuador - 15.9 per 100,000. Surprising, isn't it? Why the heck, in view of these statistics, does Mexico continue to get such a bum rap? Go figure.
Wait til you read these statistics for US cities - your eyes will be popping.
Washington DC - 69.3 per 100,000; Philadelphia (the City of Brotherly Love) - 27.4 per 100,000; Dallas - 24.8 per 100,000; L.A. - 22.8 per 100,000; Houston - 18.0 per 100,000 and NYC 16.8 per 100,000. Isn't that eye opening?
Worldwide Paris is 3.3, Amsterdam 7.7 and Prague is 2.9. The safest countries are Slovenia, Austria and Switzerland. Too bad I hate cold weather.
The attorney general of Mexico said that since 1998, I believe that's the correct year, that homicides are down 30%! Wow, it sure doesn't read that way in the US press. I wonder why?
But, in doing this research and reading all the data I read, which I obviously am not repeating here, it is pretty darn safe in Mexico. Which is what I've felt all along but wanted to confirm for myself.
How do you feel about this data? And these statistics? Are you surprised?
6 comments:
Excellent homework, Ms. Babs. Just makes me feel safer in Mexico than I felt yesterday, and I felt safe yesterday.
One´s biggest risk in Mexico is on the highway, I believe.
This is really interesting. I feel safe here too and I hate the bad press Mexico continues to get! Thanks for this post.
Thanks for that, Babs. Like parts of the US, there are parts of Mexico where homicide are higher. Interesting that they also happen to be the parts adjacent to the US. Tijuana, Nogales, Juarez, Laredo. As though it's contagious, or something.
It was really interesting to do the "homework". Hopefully lots of people will read this info and pass it forward.....
Heck Felipe, I think my biggest risk is just going up and down the stairs. Well, at least lately, ha.
Glad your safety has been reconfirmed. Yes 1st Mate - I wasn't able to get specific homicide rates for border towns. However, I've probably crossed at Nuevo Laredo close to 100 times in my life, or more, and have never seen one thing. Of course, I must admit, I do go through early in the morning.......
IMHO, the bad rap comes from the murder rates in Juarez and Laredo. Almost all of the high rates come from drug gangs and the like, not a real worry of mine, but the primary news you hear of in Houston is about border cities.
Great work. I would point out that the stats you're referring to are for the entire country, and like Tom said, the bloodiest cities are those close to the U.S. border and linked to the drug trade.
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