In El Salvador, the homicide rate increased by 37 percent in 2009 as there were 71 murders for every 100,000 residents. Other Central America countries had high homicide rates as well, with Honduras having 67 per 100,000, and Guatemala having 52 murders per 100,000 residents.

By comparison, Mexico has 14 murders per 100,000 and the United States has 5.4 per 100,000 residents.

The high level in Central America is due to the increase in cocaine trafficking routes throughout the country. Cocaine seizures quadrupled from 2004 and 2007.

Source:  Nick Miroff and William Booth, “Mexican drug cartels bring violence with them in move to Central America,” Washington Post, July 27, 2010.

In 2009, officials report that around 1,600 people were killed by drug violence in Honduras.

The killings were attributed to Mexican drug cartels.

Source:  Reuters, “Drug gangs kill nine in Honduras as violence grows,” Washington Post, April 11, 2010.