Brazil capitals record 43 homicides a day

The 9th Brazilian Public Safety Yearbook revealed that 43.6 people were daily killed in the 27 state capitals in 2014. The report, undertaken by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety and published today (Sep. 30), indicates that crimes like murder, robbery resulting in death, and fatal bodily injury totaled 15,932 victims. There was a 0.8% increase compared with 2013, when 15,804 deaths were recorded.

Fortaleza—one of the largest cities in the Northeast—had the worst absolute and relative numbers of killings in 2014. There were 1,989 homicides, or 73.3 deaths for every 100,000 people, 1% lower compared with 2013, when the number of victims stood at 1,993.

Salvador has the second worst absolute number. There were 1,397 homicides or 48.1 deaths for every 100,000 people. In 2013, the city recorded 1,485 crimes and a rate of 51.5 killings for every 100,000 people.

São Paulo, the country's most populous city, presented the third worst absolute number—1,360 deaths—and the lowest crimes rate—11.4 deaths for every 100,000 people. Compared with 2013, when the city recorded 1,412 deaths or a rate of 11.9 killings for every 100,000 people, there was a reduction of 4.3%.

The largest increase was registered in Campo Grande, going from 13.8 in 2013 to 18.9 deaths for every 100,000 people in 2014. In absolute numbers, there were 159 killings in 2014 and 115 the year before.

The largest reduction was recorded in Boa Vista, where the rate dropped from 23.3 to 17.5 deaths for every 100,000. In 2014, 55 deaths were registered, while in 2013 there were 72 killings.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta

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