A total of 543 people have been murdered between January and November 2025, a figure that has sent a cold shock through the entire country. With this total, the country marks a homicide rate of 12 per every 100,000 inhabitants, a number that on paper sounds "moderate," but on the streets feels like an alarm bell. Among these 543 cases, 14 were unintentional, but they still left grief and silence in their wake. Last year, 581 homicides were recorded, according to official figures from Panama's Ministry of Public Security, published in early January 2025. That figure represented an increase of approximately 4.4% compared to the 556 homicides reported in 2023. HOT SPOTS The country's map shows red lights in places where violence is not going away. Colón, once again, leads the tragedy with an extremely high and alarming rate of 36 per every 100,000 inhabitants. In the capital, the situation is also not smooth: 22 per every 100,000, a rate that demands urgent solutions before the curve goes up again. The rest of the provinces maintain a low rate, but no one is truly at ease. 2024: Colón, Panamá, and Panamá Oeste The provinces that recorded the most conflict in 2024 were: Panamá (capital), Colón, and Panamá Oeste. These are the same provinces that are marked in red during the 11 months of this 2025.
