Salvador, the murder capital.

Bahia 247

Numbers presented by the 'Violence Map 2013: Homicide and Youth in Brazil', released this Thursday (18), reveal alarming data about violence in Salvador and Bahia.

In 2011, the capital city had the highest number of homicides among the 27 Brazilian state capitals, according to the study. There were 1.671 homicides in Salvador that year, representing approximately 23,6% of homicides in the Northeast region and a 215,3% increase compared to 2001, when there were 530 homicides in the capital of Bahia.

The variation between 2001 and 2011 was the second largest recorded among the capital cities, behind only Natal, whose growth was 251,3%.

Regarding the homicide rate, Salvador recorded 62 homicides per 100 inhabitants in 2011. This was the third highest among Brazilian capitals, behind Maceió (111,1) and João Pessoa (86,3). Compared to 2001, when the capital of Bahia recorded a rate of 21,3, there was a growth of 190,9%, the highest among the capitals.

The study compared the homicide rate in 1999 with that of 2011 in the capital cities. In this comparison, the capital of Bahia moved from last place in the ranking (27th), with a rate of 7,9, to third position.

In addition to leading in the number of homicides among Brazilian capitals, Salvador is also at the top of the ranking of capitals in the number of homicides of young people: according to the map, in 2011, there were 777 youth homicides in the capital of Bahia.

However, the number has been falling since 2009 and represents a reduction of approximately 14,3% compared to 2010, when 907 homicides of young people were recorded. The variation between 2001 and 2011 was the second largest recorded among the capitals (232,1%), behind only Natal, whose growth was 267,3%. In 2001, there were 234 homicides of young people in Salvador.