The Central American country received the safest rating from the U.S. State Department, while Sweden remains at a higher level of caution due to terrorism-related risks
According to data released by the Salvadoran government and collected by Reuters, the homicide rate fell to approximately 1.3 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025, down from 7.8 in 2022.
El Salvador reached a classification of Level 1 “Exercise Normal Precautions” in the travel recommendations of the United States Department of State, the lowest risk category within the system used by Washington. The update, issued on June 25, 2026, represents a significant change in the perception of security in the Central American country.
In contrast, Sweden is currently at Level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution”, primarily due to concerns related to Islamic terrorism. The U.S. recommendation for the European country was updated on July 2, 2026.
The difference in classifications means that, according to the U.S. travel warning system, a U.S. citizen currently receives a lower caution recommendation for traveling to El Salvador than for traveling to Sweden. Sweden's decline in recent years is attributed to the massive influx of illegal Islamic immigrants that has caused an increase in crime within the Nordic country.
The change in El Salvador is closely related to the drastic reduction in homicides recorded during the presidency of Nayib Bukele, who implemented a broad offensive against gangs and organized crime starting in 2022.
Bukele's strategy included a state of emergency, large police and military operations, and the mass detention of suspected members of criminal organizations. The government claims that these measures have dismantled a significant part of the structures that dominated large areas of the country for years.
In April 2026, for example, Salvadoran authorities conducted a collective trial against 486 suspected gang members, one of the largest processes carried out under Bukele's security policy.
The contrast with Sweden is also striking due to the historical image of both countries. El Salvador was considered one of the most violent countries in the world for years due to gang activity, while Sweden was commonly associated with high security standards.
The current classification from the Department of State shows that the security situation in El Salvador has changed radically in a few years, to the point that Washington considers U.S. travelers can visit the country applying usual precautions.
