{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/el-salvador/san-salvador","updatedAt":"2026-07-28T01:52:07.007Z","place":{"city":"San Salvador","country":"El Salvador","countryCode":"SV","lat":13.68935,"lon":-89.18718},"safety":{"score":51,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":42,"confidence":0.64,"caps":[],"databaseScore":48,"travellerSentiment":{"score":64,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveler forums and review sites show visitors generally feel safe during daylight hours in well‑patrolled zones, though many note lingering concerns about nighttime travel and occasional police checkpoints.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":71,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":58,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":47,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":64,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":37,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":61,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":86,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":1,"label":"Exercise Normal Precautions","updated":"Thu, 25 Jun 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/el-salvador-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-06-17T13:04:09Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/el-salvador"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-21T13:58:56.5237699-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/el-salvador"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":7.89768799960639,"display":"7.9 / 100k","year":"2022","score":52,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":28.6,"display":"28.6%","year":"2016","score":42,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.31419355233985435,"display":"0.31 / million","year":"2021","score":85,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":65.9991479,"display":"66/100","year":"2024","score":66,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":44.6872968,"display":"45/100","year":"2024","score":45,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":36.1837975,"display":"36/100","year":"2024","score":36,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":47.7787327,"display":"48/100","year":"2024","score":48,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":52.083202,"display":"52/100","year":"2024","score":52,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":43.0499183,"display":"43/100","year":"2024","score":43,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":53.54,"display":"53.5 / 100 · city-level","year":null,"score":50,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":37.9,"display":"37.9%","year":"2019","score":32,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":14,"display":"14.0%","year":"2019","score":69,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":59,"display":"US AQI 59 · Moderate","year":null,"score":86,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":33,"display":"July: highs ~33°C · no weather extremes","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Drought (green)","year":null,"score":72,"source":"GDACS / USGS"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Drought","severity":"green","title":"Drought is on going in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador","distanceKm":391}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — San Salvador is now one of the safest capitals in Central America for visitors, but petty crime and localized gang presence still demand vigilance.","summary":"The latest multi-source safety profile rates San Salvador as moderate risk, with homicide rates down sharply but still higher than global averages; visitor perception of safety has improved markedly, yet scams and occasional gang‑related alerts persist.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Mugging incidents are uncommon in tourist‑friendly districts but can occur in poorly lit peripheral neighborhoods, especially after dark"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Pickpocketing is frequent in crowded areas such as the Historic Center, Metro stations, and popular markets; bag‑snatching is common on buses and near ATMs"},"safeAreas":["Zona Rosa","Escalon","San Benito","Centro Histórico","La Libertad"],"avoidAreas":["Ilopango","Soyapango","San Miguel"],"scams":["Express kidnapping / fake police extortion","Overpriced or counterfeit currency exchange scams","Unauthorized tour operators charging inflated fees for beach excursions"],"zones":[{"name":"Zona Rosa","level":"safe","note":"High police presence, upscale malls and hotels, low petty crime"},{"name":"Escalon","level":"caution","note":"Residential area with good lighting but occasional opportunistic scams after dark"},{"name":"San Benito","level":"caution","note":"Popular dining district, generally safe but watch for pickpockets in crowded venues"},{"name":"Centro Histórico","level":"caution","note":"Historic center revitalized with tourism, yet occasional petty theft near markets"},{"name":"Ilopango","level":"avoid","note":"High gang activity and recent MS-13 arrests, elevated risk of violence"},{"name":"Soyapango","level":"avoid","note":"Documented gang presence and recent drive‑by shootings, unsafe for visitors"},{"name":"San Miguel","level":"avoid","note":"Reported extortion hotspots and recent gang clashes, avoid entirely"},{"name":"La Libertad","level":"caution","note":"Coastal tourist zone with strong security but occasional petty theft on beaches"}]}}