THE world is a dangerous place and trouble can spring up, even in countries normally thought of as "safe".

The Middle East, the drug capitals of Latin America and many parts of Africa are all dismissed as “dangerous” but closer look at the West reveals it too has its problems.

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Gun crime in North America, terrorism in Europe and drug problems in Australia are all real dangers.

This is The Sun Online’s list of the world’s most dangerous cities by region.

USA and Canada

St Louis, MO and Eastern St Louis, IL

20 St Louis has the highest murder rate in the United States Credit: AP:Associated Press

20 The suburb of Ferguson in the city was the site of widespread protests and violence after the shooting of Michael Brown, a black man by a white police officer in 2014 Credit: AP:Associated Press

The FBI named St Louis the most dangerous urban area in the United States.

The US outdid Canada across the board with no cities north of the border making the top 10 for the region.

Data collected by the Bureau showed sky high rates of murder, robbery and rape in the conurbation.

The city had a murder rate of 59.3 per 100,000 people, higher than “Murder City” Detroit and more than double the rate in Chicago, which has seen a shocking increase in gun violence.

St Louis suburb Ferguson was also subjected to protests and riots following the shooting Michael Brown.

Latin America

Caracas, Venezuela and San Pedro Sula, Honduras

20 Caracas in Venezuela has been blighted by riots owing to food shortages in the country Credit: EPA

20 The drop in oil prices sent the country's economy on a downward spiral sparking protests and violence Credit: Getty Images

South and Central America are notorious around the world for the high levels of violence, usually related to drug cartels and gangs.

In recent years Caracas has seen trouble with violent crime made even worse by the country’s economy going into freefall.

Shortly after Hugo Chavez’s death the oil price plummeted causing Venezuela’s economy to collapse.

Gangs roam the streets and many crimes go unsolved as riots sweep the capital city.

20 Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world Credit: EPA

20 Members of the gang Barrio 18 are arrested by cops in San Pedro Sula, Honduras Credit: EPA

It has even been reported that the country has almost run out of toilet paper and that famished citizens have resorted to eating zoo animals.

Further north, in Central America, San Pedro Sula in Honduras has a murder rate of 173.6 per 100,000 people, the highest recorded in the world.

Locals and tourists have fled the city which is now rife with drug trafficking and gang violence.

The coastal city is regularly used as a setting off point to smuggle narcotics into the US.

Eastern Europe

Kiev, Ukraine

20 Kiev has been hit by multiple protests as tensions rise between Ukraine and Russia Credit: Getty Images

The Ukrainian capital is still feeling the effects of the Euromaidan protests which began in November 2013.

Unrest was sparked by a split between the city’s populous and the national government.

Protesters took to barricades in the streets after the Ukrainian government decided to hold off signing an association agreement with the European Union reportedly due to pressure from Russia.

This would eventually lead to the annexation of Crimea by Putin’s Russia causing tensions to further rise in the former Soviet republic.

Earlier this year it was reported the city remains rife with theft and vandalism while violent protests continue to periodically hit the streets.



Russia and Central Asia

Grozny, Chechnya

20 Grozny in the Russian Province of Chechnya has recently cracked down on homosexuality Credit: Getty Images

20 There have been several reports of gay 'concentration camps' springing up in the province, but the leader of the region, Ramzan Kadyrov, pictured, denies they exist Credit: Getty Images

Chechnya has been synonymous with violence and terrorism for years since war broke out in 1999 and lasted almost a decade.

The region has calmed down in many regards but recently hit the headlines due to an alleged “gay purge” taking place.

In April, a gay man claimed he was held in a concentration camp-style Russian prison after being kidnapped.

Several hundred gay men are feared to have been been tortured or killed because of their sexuality.

The southern republic is run by hardman and Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov.

Middle East and North Africa

Raqqa, Syria

20 The Syrian city of Raqqa has been trapped under ISIS control for years Credit: Reuters

20 A brutally harsh system of Sharia law is rigorously enforced by the extremists who declared the city the 'capital' of the Caliphate Credit: Reuters

The Syrian city has been ravaged by war for years and under the occupation of ISIS since 2013.

Raqqa was declared the capital of the “caliphate” by the Islamist death cult which has ruthlessly oppressed its inhabitants.

The ancient city’s non-Sunni monuments have almost all been destroyed by the fanatics who have also instilled brutal Sharia law.

Raqqa is currently under a bombardment as Kurdish-led forces continue to try and liberate the city from ISIS occupation.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Mogadishu, Somalia

20 The Somali capital Mogadishu has long had a reputation for danger Credit: AP:Associated Press

20 A recent suicide attack by al-Qaeda linked al-Shabaab militants killed 10 people when a car packed with explosives rammed a police station Credit: Getty Images

The Somali capital was torn apart by decades of war and to this day still remains a very dangerous place.

Wounds from the battles are beginning to heal but al-Qaeda backed militants al-Shabaab continue to terrorise the city.

The seas around the capital are also regarded as a piracy hotspot with many vessels being taken hostage over the past few years.

Indian subcontinent

Karachi, Pakistan

20 Karachi in Pakistan is regarded as the world's most dangerous 'megacity' Credit: EPA

20 Political unrest in the city is commonplace but it has seen a reduction in crime rates in recent years Credit: EPA

The Pakistani city has seen a reduction in crime of late but still qualifies as the world’s most dangerous “megacity”.

Home to 23.5 million people it is considered the second most populous city on the planet.

Civil and political unrest, assassinations, suicide bombings and gang violence have been regular features of life in Karachi for years.

Far East

Manila, Philippines

20 Distraught relatives stand over the body of their slain loved one reportedly murdered for being a 'drug dealer' Credit: Getty Images

20 A woman clutches her dead husband in grief after armed assailants in a motorcycle shot him in the street Credit: Getty Images

Manila has always had a bad reputation for crime.

Drugs, over crowded slums, poverty and kidnapping make for a heady mix of disorder in the city.

Shootings have become regular in the city following President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial crackdown on drug dealers.

More than 5,600 have been killed, many gunned down in executions administered by ruthless vigilantes.

And last month a casino was shot up by an armed gunman who stole £1.7million worth of chips and set fire to gambling tables before burning himself to death.

The attack left 36 dead from smoke inhalation and 50 more injured, many of whom were hurt after jumping from the windows of the casino to reach safety.

Australia and New Zealand

Perth and Western Australia

20 Perth is the capital of Western Australia, the state with the worst crystal meth problem in the country Credit: Alamy

20 Western Australia has suffered from widespread crystal meth use over the years Credit: Alamy

A dark secret is lurking far from Australia's famous tourist hotspots.

Crystal meth abuse Down Under has turned rural areas in Western Australia into what have been dubbed “Ice Towns”.

The state’s largest city, Perth, sees its hospitals filled with addicts who commit crimes to fund their habit.

Western Australia is also reported to have the purest form of the drug leading to fears users could accidentally overdose.