Dominican Republic Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Dominican Republic
US State Department Travel Advisory
Exercise Increased Caution
Updated June 12, 2025
Dominican Republic recorded 10.9 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2023, a rate that is high by global standards. That places Dominican Republic #40 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Americas average of 20.8 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. Homicide rates have fallen 44% over the past decade (from 19.4 in 2013). For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Dominican Republic at Level 2 of 4: Exercise Increased Caution.
Homicide Rate
10.9 /100k
Safety Rank
#156 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 2 of 4
Data Year
2023
Homicide Rate Trend (1991-2023)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide rates have fallen 44% over the past decade (from 19.4 in 2013). Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Dominican Republic Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Who Is Affected
In Dominican Republic, the homicide rate for men is 8.3× higher than the rate for women — 19.6 vs 2.4 per 100,000 (2023).
Homicide victims per 100,000 of each sex. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Dominican Republic:
Updated after periodic review with minor edits. Last updated June 18, 2024. Exercise increased caution in the Dominican Republic due to crime. Advisory Summary: Violent crime is a concern in the Dominican Republic despite more police presence in areas often visited by tourists. Do not display wealth and be wary of meeting individuals from online in secluded locations.
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Level 4
Do Not Travel
About This Data
Homicide figures are intentional homicides per 100,000 people, compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and published by the World Bank (indicator VC.IHR.PSRC.P5). Homicide is the most reliably comparable crime statistic across countries because definitions of other offences (assault, theft, robbery) vary widely between national legal systems and reporting practices.
Travel advisory levels are issued by the US Department of State and updated continuously. They reflect risks to travelers including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, and natural disasters — not only crime rates. Countries report crime data with different lags; the most recent available year is shown for each metric.
Dominican Republic Population & Demographics
Population of 11,427,557, growth trends, economy, and more.
Crime & Safety in Neighboring Countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dominican Republic safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Dominican Republic at Level 2 of 4 (Exercise Increased Caution). The homicide rate of 10.9 per 100,000 is high by global standards.
What is the crime rate in Dominican Republic?
Dominican Republic has an intentional homicide rate of 10.9 per 100,000 people (2023, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #40 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Dominican Republic?
Dominican Republic is currently at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Advisory levels range from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
How does crime in Dominican Republic compare to other countries?
Dominican Republic's homicide rate of 10.9 per 100,000 is above the world average of 5.2 and below the Americas average of 20.8.