Ecuador registers the second most violent period in its history

Published at: 20/08/2026 08:01 AM

Between January and July 2026, Ecuador recorded 4,882 homicides, consolidating this period as the second most violent period in the country's recent history. The figure is only lower than the record recorded in the same stretch of 2025, when 5,295 murders were reached.

According to information detailed by Telesur, the current level of crime confirms a sustained deterioration in national security, exceeding the records of 2024 (3,753 cases) and 2023 (4,509 cases). In addition, current data multiply by eight the 609 crimes reported in the same interval in 2017.

The province of Guayas remains the epicenter of violence with 2,028 deaths so far this year. It is followed by Manabí with 705 cases, El Oro with 634 and Los Ríos with 558, territories heavily impacted by the operation of criminal structures.

Along with Santa Elena (141 deaths), these provinces concentrate the areas most affected by lethal violence. For its part, Pichincha has 165 homicides in the Sierra, while the border province of Esmeraldas registers 196 cases.

Mazo News Team