El Salvador reports historic drop in homicides as Bukele security strategy draws international attention
SAN SALVADOR, March — El Salvador is emerging as a regional reference point on public security after recording historically low homicide levels under President Nayib Bukele’s anti-gang strategy, a policy that authorities say is also helping attract foreign investment.
According to the National Civil Police (PNC), no homicides were recorded during the first 20 days of 2026, extending a downward trend in violent crime that officials attribute to ongoing security measures overseen by the government’s security cabinet.
Police authorities publish daily updates through official channels reporting days without killings, reinforcing what the government describes as sustained improvements in public safety for citizens and businesses.
El Salvador recorded 303 days without homicides in 2025 and closed the year with 82 killings, none linked to gangs, authorities said. The figure represents a 28% decline from 2024, when 114 homicides were registered.
Officials credit the results to initiatives including the Territorial Control Plan and a state of exception in force since March 2022, under which more than 90,800 suspected gang members have been detained.
A January 2026 survey by the Institute of Public Opinion (IUDOP) found that 62.7% of Salvadorans view improved security as the country’s most significant development, while polling firm CID Gallup reported that 96% support government anti-gang measures. Gallup data also indicated that 95% of respondents said they had not been victims of crime in 2025, and ranked El Salvador among the 20 countries where people feel safest walking alone at night.
The government’s security model has drawn growing interest from foreign political leaders seeking to study its implementation. Chilean president-elect José Antonio Kast visited the Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) in January 2026, following a visit by Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves in December 2025, to review maximum-security infrastructure and operational protocols.
During a joint press appearance held amid Kast’s visit, Bukele responded to questions about the human rights of detainees held at the facility, arguing that international debate often prioritises the rights of criminals over those of victims. He said his administration had focused first on protecting law-abiding citizens and expressed scepticism towards criticism from some organisations.
Delegations from Ecuador and members of the United States Congress, including representatives of the El Salvador Caucus, have also toured the prison complex, describing the territorial control strategy and large-scale detention policy as a regional reference in combating organised crime.
Improved security conditions have coincided with stronger foreign investment performance. After a cautious period in 2024, Foreign Direct Investment rose 64% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, driven by greater legal certainty and declining crime levels, according to official figures.
El Salvador attracted $639.6 million in foreign investment in 2024. Investors from Spain, Mexico, the United States, Panama and Honduras have led projects in tourism, infrastructure and real estate, including a planned $730 million development by Grupo Roble.
Government officials say the security strategy has helped transform El Salvador’s international image, positioning the country as a safer and increasingly competitive destination for investment.
