El Salvador Spends Over $2 Billion per Year on Security

The statistic includes public and private spending and represents 10.8% of the country's GDP.

Friday, July 9, 2010


©image: Stephen Z

Jorge Daboub, president of the El Salvador Chamber of Commerce and Industry, indicated that in the case of private companies the annual cost of security is more than $640 million.

In his speech to the conference "Promote your country 2010", organised by the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES) he added that, "it is a high cost that affects the competetiveness of Salvadoran businesses and scares off investors".

Daboub went on to say that Salvadoran business are less competetive because they spend more on private security than others in Central America. In today's global marketplace a 3% of 5% difference in the cost of a product is enough to make it difficult to compete, according to Elsalvador.com.

More on this topic

$1.2 Billion: The Cost of Insecurity in El Salvador

January 2010

Costs related to crime in El Salvador top $1.2 billion each year, or 5.4% of the Gross Domestic Product.

The business sector spends $600 million a year hiring private security services, losses for theft reach $300 million, and the state spends an additional $300 million in hospital and emergency costs.

Crime and Violence: A Staggering Toll on Central American Development

April 2011

Growing crime and violence in Central America not only have an immediate human and social toll, they also pose a tremendous threat to development potential in the region.

Today, it is estimated that these sources of instability may decrease regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 8 percent, once health, institutional, private security, and material expenses are accounted for.

C.A. Spends 7.7% of its GDP in Security

October 2009

The region spends over $6.5 billion each year to fight insecurity and violence.

Central America is the world's most violent region, with an average murder rate of 33 homicides per 100.000 inhabitants, stated a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

"Central America has become the world's most violent region.

El Salvador: Security Costs Reach 11%

September 2009

Security costs at Salvadoran companies are on the rise, together with recent increases in crime.

The American Chamber of Commerce of El Salvador (AmCham), showed its concern for the issue, which generates expenses unrelated to the natural cost structure of each activity.

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