Panamas homicide rate down over 50%

A decade ago homicides un Panama averaged 70 a month with months as high as 92. Now the rate is 32-33 with months as low 20 says  National Police, Director Alonso Vega Pino.

Speaking on AM Radio on Wednesday, Aug 1 he said the number of homicides varies significantly and unpredictably from month to month, although there has been a significant general decline in the last ten years.

In 2009 there were, on average, 68 homicides per month, followed by 63 homicides per month in 2010 and 2011.

Since then, the years with the lowest number of homicides have been 2016 and 2017, both with a monthly average of 35 homicides. Preliminary figures for 2018 point to a slight increase to 36 per month.

Bloodiest month
December 2009 was the bloodiest month, with 93 homicides reported, while among the calmest are June and August 2017, when they registered 23.