Texistepeque, El Salvador

Texistepeque is not for the faint of heart. With a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 people in 2024, El Salvador as a whole has become the safest country in Central America, but the bureaucratic headaches of navigating this police state are a persistent challenge. The government's heavy-handed crackdown on gangs has resulted in the world's highest incarceration rate, with 1.6% of the population behind bars in 2023. Those willing to endure the intrusive security measures may find Texistepeque a viable option, but it's certainly not for the average risk-averse expat.