The list of the world’s 50 deadliest cities, published by the Mexico Citizens Council for Public Security, features 41 in South America, including 21 in Brazil, which is scheduled to host the Summer Olympics this year.

The ranking, based on the number of homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, places Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas as the world’s most dangerous city after toppling the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, which had taken the top spot for four consecutive years.

El Salvador’s capital city of San Salvador placed third, while the Mexican city of Acapulco and Maturin in Venezuela ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Drug trafficking, gang wars, political instability, corruption and poverty have contributed to the region’s elevated violence.

South African cities on the list included Cape Town (nine), Durban (41), Nelson Mandela Bay (42) and Johannesburg (47). The U.S. cities of St. Louis, Baltimore, Detroit and New Orleans took the 15th, 19th, 28th and 32nd spots, respectively.
(Graphic: Nam Kyung-don)