Police Say Violent Deaths Are Down 11 Percent So Far In 2026

Ecuador's police say violent deaths are down 11% so far in 2026 compared with the same period of 2025.

The reported change equals 515 fewer homicides. Police also reported that the homicide rate moved from 25.5 to 22.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Enforcement Numbers

Police also reported 37,445 people detained or apprehended so far this year.

That total included 32,430 cases in flagrancia and 4,699 people detained under warrants.

What This Means For Expats

Treat the numbers as a national trend signal, not a neighborhood guarantee. Ecuador's security reality still varies sharply by province, city, time of day and type of crime.

For residents, the practical approach is the same: follow local alerts, avoid assuming national numbers describe your block, and keep normal security habits in place even when official trend lines improve.

Practical Takeaway

A falling national homicide rate is better than the opposite, but it does not make every route, beach town, terminal, or nightlife area equally safe. Use the data as context, then make decisions based on the specific place you are in.