New Data from 2022 Point to an Increase in Violence in the Brazilian Amazon
The most recent report of the Brazilian Public Security Forum’s 17th Yearbook 2023 revealed a disturbing reality. Despite an overall decline in homicides in Brazil in 2022, the numbers write down an alarming situation in the Amazonian states, especially in Rondônia.
Rondônia and Acre stand out as two of the country’s most violent states. The homicide incidence in Acre increases by 21% between 2021 and 2022. From 2021 to 2022, Rondônia’s total increased by 14%, the third-highest increase in all of Brazil.
Amazonia is home to three of the five most violent Brazilian capitals. Porto Velho, the capital of Rondônia, joins Manaus (3rd place, 53.40) and Macapá (1st place, 70) at the top of the list of the world’s most violent capitals, with a rate of 42.10 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.
Looking specifically at violence against women, the statistics are even more alarming.
Regrettably, Rondônia leads the nation in female homicides, and the number continues to rise. Despite data discrepancies between the Secretariat for Security, Defense, and Citizenship (SESDEC) and the Yearbook, it is incontrovertible that Rondônia has one of the highest growth rates of this crime in the entire country.
HOMICIDE OF WOMEN
1. Rondônia: 11.2
2. Roraima: 10.8
3. Rio Grande do Sul: 7
4. Amapá: 6
5. Ceará: 5.8
(Rate per 100,000 women)
When analyzing cases of femicide, the situation worsens: the state also leads the nation in this regard, with an increase of more than 50 percent between 2021 and 2022.
FEMICIDES IN 2022
1. Rondônia: 3.1
2. Mato Grosso do Sul: 2.9
3. Acre: 2.6
4. Mato Grosso: 2.6
5. Amapá: 2.2
(Rate per 100,000 women)
Rondônia also leads the nation in several other concerning categories of crime. In addition to being the state with the highest rate of female homicides and feminicides, it is also the state with the highest rate of firearm seizures, with 120.24 per 100,000 inhabitants, well above Espírito Santo in second place.
FIREARMS SEIZURE
1. Rondônia: 120.24
2. Espírito Santo: 112.2
3. Rio Grande do Sul: 102.37
4. Minas Gerais: 78.51
5. Ceará: 74.07
(Rate per 100,000 inhabitants)
The state is also a leader in crime of racism, with a rate of 5.8 per 100,000 residents.
RACISM
1. Rondônia: 5.8
2. Amapá: 5.2
3. Sergipe: 4.8
4. Acre: 3.3
5. Espírito Santo: 3.1
(Rate per 100,000 inhabitants)
Rondônia has the greatest average rate of robberies from individuals, businesses, and residences. In addition, the state has the highest rate of drug seizures, with 542.2 per 100,000 residents, putting it at the top of this lamentable list.
STREET MUGGING
1. Rondônia: 916.5
2. Amapá: 724.8
3. Amazonas: 699.3
4. Pará: 640.6
5. Distrito Federal: 599.1
(Rate per 100,000 inhabitants)
COMMERCIAL ROBBERY
1. Amapá: 92.2
2. Rondônia: 82.8
3. Amazonas: 48.4
4. Piauí: 39.6
5. Ceará: 38.2
(Rate per 100,000 inhabitants)
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY
1. Amapá: 141.4
2. Rondônia: 105.2
3. Roraima: 66.5
4. Acre: 41.9
5. Piauí: 39.8
(Rate per 100,000 inhabitants)
AVERAGE RATE OF TOTAL ROBBERY
1. Rondônia: 368.17
2. Amapá: 319.47
3. Amazonas: 256.40
4. Pará: 227.53
5. Distrito Federal: 209.83
(Rate per 100,000 inhabitants)
Sadly, this surge of violence is not limited to the state of Rondônia. Other Amazonian states have also experienced an alarming rise in various categories of crime.
Roraima has the highest incidence of rapes with 27 per 100,000 residents, followed by Acre with 22.6 per 100,000 residents. Roraima is once again at the top of the list with an alarming rate of 87.1 when it comes to rapes of the vulnerable.
RAPE
1. Roraima: 27
2. Acre: 22.6
3. Amapá: 21.10
4. Santa Catarina: 19.5
5. Rondônia: 18.2
(Rate per 100,000 inhabitants)
RAPE OF VULNERABLE
1. Roraima 87.1
2. Acre: 67.1
3. Amapá: 64.5
4. Mato Grosso do Sul: 64
5.Tocantins: 56.2 6. Rondônia: 46.8
(Rate per 100,000 inhabitants)
Rondônia continues to dominate the nation in terms of drug seizures. Cocaine seizures in Rondônia and Acre reached all-time highs in 2022, showing that criminal factions from the south of the country had just begun to explore a vast and lucrative market in the north, and that this migration is unlikely to slow down.
DRUG ARREST IN 2022
1. Rondônia: 542.2
2. Rio Grande do Norte: 377.9
3. Minas Gerais: 337.9
4. Goiás: 299.5
5. Santa Catarina: 291.1
(Rate per 100,000 inhabitants)
All rates shown in this text are in the Yearbook 2023 that you can download at: Anuário (Yearbook) 2023