Fewer or more homicides in the Dominican Republic? This is what the numbers say

The homicide rate in the Dominican Republic continues to decline, according to the most recent weekly report from the Joint Task Force, released by the National Police.

As of April 25, 2025, the country recorded a cumulative rate of 7.93 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, marking a decrease of 3.42 points compared to April in previous years (2023 and 2024). For the month of April alone, the specific rate stood at 6.10, and in 21 regions across the country—two of them reporting zero homicides—the numbers remained in the single digits.

Of the national total, 1.62 points correspond to cases where the victims were foreign nationals, meaning that when these incidents are excluded, the adjusted rate is 6.31 per 100,000.

The provinces with the highest homicide rates include Elías Piña, Montecristi, El Seibo, and Azua.

This downward trend aligns with analysis by the regional watchdog Insight Crime, which in late February reported that the Dominican Republic reduced its homicide rate by 16.4% in 2024, completing three consecutive years of decline. The same report notes that most homicides in the country stem from personal disputes, rather than connections to organized crime networks.

Also read: Dominican Republic has the lowest homicide rate in the Caribbean

Despite the overall downward trend, the country has stepped up its efforts to combat drug trafficking and arms smuggling, reporting a record seizure of 37 tons of cocaine in 2024.