Fact check: Sweden’s Murder Rate Now Higher Than El Salvador’s

1. Summary of the results

The statement appears to be technically accurate for a specific time period in early 2025, with multiple sources confirming that Sweden recorded 32 murders compared to El Salvador's 20 murders in the first 110 days of 2025 ^{[1] [2] [1]}. However, this comparison requires significant context to be properly understood.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

• The comparison is based on a relatively short timeframe of just 110 days ^[2], which may not represent long-term trends
• El Salvador's lower murder rate is attributed to President Bukele's recent anti-gang crackdown ^[2], representing a significant departure from historical patterns
• Sweden's situation is influenced by complex socioeconomic factors including organized crime, gang activity, and immigration policies ^[3]
• The violence in Sweden has reportedly spread beyond traditional "no-go zones," causing significant social impact, with many older Swedes considering leaving the country ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement, while technically accurate for a specific period, could be misleading in several ways:

• It lacks historical context - El Salvador has traditionally had much higher murder rates, and this comparison represents a very recent shift ^[3]
• The statement could be used to support various political agendas:
• Anti-immigration groups could benefit by using these statistics to argue against current immigration policies ^[1]
• Pro-Bukele supporters could use this to showcase the success of his controversial anti-gang measures ^[2]
• Swedish opposition parties could use these numbers to criticize current law enforcement policies

It's worth noting that comprehensive statistical data from reliable sources like Statista doesn't provide direct comparative data between these countries ^[4], suggesting that more long-term comparative analysis would be needed for a full understanding of the situation.