Gallup – Global Safety Report, 2024

The majority of people worldwide feel safe walking alone at night in their area, with 70% reporting feeling safe in 2023 compared to 64% in 2013. However, progress has stalled in recent years, with slightly fewer people feeling safe in 2023 than in 2020. Regions such as Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, and North America have high feelings of safety, while sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America have lower levels. In Ecuador, security concerns have increased due to its role in global cocaine trafficking, leading to a spike in gang violence and homicides. Ecuador's murder rate reached nearly 50 per 100,000 residents in 2023, making it one of the highest in the world.