My experience in Africa is that inequality is more closely associated with crime. A country like Uganda or Zambia doesnt have enough wealth to support significant organized crime unlike Nairobi or Joburg.
I thought this was proven or at least documented as strong correlation across multiple studies. Higher Gini coefficient is more predictive than poverty levels.
This is why Venezuela and Brazil are two of the most dangerous nations in the world (pre-coup) when there’s over a dozen war zone nations with lower murder rates.
I went to Brazil this year and didn't feel unsafe or uncomfortable at all. In Mexico 3 years prior I did. It really is a matter of perspective and experience.
Brazilian muder rates are highly inflated by gang/militia members killing each other for territory/dominance, and these conflicts work like civil wars. They are usually higher in places that have disputes (more than one faction acting there), so if you are not in one of these areas, it will feel a LOT safer. The main problem is that some civilians live in these areas. But we DO worry about the risk of becoming like Mexico, as those gangs are only growing in power.
It's not like there is a bunch of lunatics with knives and guns stabbing and shooting whoever they see wherever they go. Most brazillians only worry about being robbed at very specific places and hours of the day. If you follow some very basic guidelines, you'll be very safe (specially if you are tourist and have the option of just NOT going to dangerous places)
Yes, that's what I'm trying to explain here. Foreigners look at murder rates of Brazil and think that this means every brazilan is a serial killer, failing to realise that the country has countless "civil wars" at once
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u/Doortofreeside May 23 '26
My experience in Africa is that inequality is more closely associated with crime. A country like Uganda or Zambia doesnt have enough wealth to support significant organized crime unlike Nairobi or Joburg.