A major concern among potential expats and retirees is how safe it will be to live in their new country.  It is a fact that there are areas in Latin America where crime and violence are prevalent, particularly in urban centers. The good news? There are still places where expats can find some of the safest countries in the world in the tropical paradise of their dreams.

The emerging countries in Latin America face a number of challenges as they continue to develop improved infrastructures and economies. Political instabilities and the growth of organized crime in some countries have also been major factors in personal safety concerns. At the same time, several countries in the region have made good improvements in public safety.

Steve Summers

How Safe Is Living in Latin America – The Numbers

A recent Gallup Law and Order Index poll showed that residents in Latin American and the Caribbean were least likely to feel their communities were secure. This survey was based on factors such as confidence in the local justice system, how safe respondents felt personally, and self-reported incidences of theft or other crimes.

Significantly, however, the index ranking (of world regions) actually improved 2 points from the previous 2009 survey. Other regions, while ranking higher, showed decreases during the same period; the U.S. and Canada, -1 point; south Asia, -6 points; Middle East and North Africa, -5 points. Even the number one region in the poll, Southeast Asia, dropped 2 points. Clearly, Latin America is moving in a positive direction.

The 2014 Global Peace Index also shows promise for the region. Of the 162 countries ranked, several popular expat destinations ranked quite high; Costa Rica came in at number 42, Panama, number 57, and Nicaragua, number 58.

What About the Cities?

It may come as a surprise, but many Central American cities are safer than those in other locations. No cities in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador, or Belize even appear on the Mexican Citizens’ Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice, or CCSP-JP, which publishes an annual report of the 50 most violent cities in the world.

While Brazilian and Venezuelan cities make up the majority of those Latin American communities on the list, Mexico, by contrast, has seen a reduction in the number of cities on that list from 12 in 2011 down to 10 in 2014.

Even the U.S. has more cities on the list than most Latin American countries; [St Louis (19), Detroit (22), New Orleans (28) and Baltimore (40)]. This is just another indication that your tropical dream location may be among the safest countries in the world.

Mii Chiel

How to Find the Safest Countries in the World

Each country has areas that are less safe than others. As part of investigating where in paradise you want to live, there are some simple things that you can do to help select the most comfortable place to begin the next phase of your life.

Online Information Is a Great Place to Begin

Because of the increasing interest by expats, retirees, and investors in Latin America, there is a wealth of information about each country that can be readily accessed by the proverbial “click of a mouse.”

In order to avoid information overload (which can easily happen), make a short list of the desirable characteristics for your tropical paradise as well as a list of concerns that you may have. When you start your research, using your lists can help focus your efforts to truly gain an understanding of the countries and communities that interest you.

Many expats post blogs, make entries on social media applications such as Instagram and Facebook (to name two), or join online groups to share their experiences living abroad.  Become part of these groups, read the entries, and, above all, ask questions about the prospective destination.  Learning from those who have already made the journey is, perhaps, the best way of discovering any potential issues that may not be openly advertised on sales or market-driven sites.

There Is No Substitute for Visiting First

While doing research and connecting with other expats is certainly an important part of finding a location that you can enjoy and feel safe in, there is no substitute for actually visiting yourself. If possible, make more than one trip; being able to experience life in your preferred area at different times can help fill in some of the “knowledge gaps” that remote research just can’t complete.

Talk to the Locals

Getting to know the ins and outs of your new community is one of the best ways of staying safe not only in Latin America, but anywhere in the world.  Talk to the locals that live there, preferably expats who speak your language.  There is no better source to learn where the problems are and how to look out for them than residents who live with them day to day.

Can Latin America Be a Safe Haven for Expats?

Ultimately, the big question for many expats is: Will my new home in paradise be safe? The answer would have to be a qualified “Yes.”

There are legitimate concerns about public safety in a number of Central and South American countries and communities. At the same time, there are also many desirable destinations whose crime rates are less than many American cities and towns.

The continued efforts by many Latin American governments to encourage foreign investment and ownership of property will, in the long term, continue to increase the level of public safety in their nations.  Additionally, as expat communities grow and flourish, the amounts of information available to potential new arrivals will only increase and provide a more concise picture of how safe life can be.

Deciding to become a tropical resident involves a certain amount of faith in the outcome. Putting in the time, in terms of gaining knowledge and visiting places that intrigue you, is one of the best ways of ensuring that the safe haven you seek is where you desire.

There is no time like the present to begin the quest. Let your journey of discovery begin today.