Analysts say one of the many causes of the lack of progress on curbing crime is widespread poverty and income inequality.

BBC: RELATED BBC SITES

But the Bank added that poverty reduction was being held back by income inequality and a reliance on mineral and mining exports in some African countries.

BBC: World Bank: Africa's economic growth to outpace average

Once one of the most egalitarian of countries, Japan is now above average among rich nations in its income inequality and, at 14%, has the highest rate of children raised in poverty.

ECONOMIST: Social change in Japan

Latin America in particular now has an income inequality between the rich and the poor that is actually narrowing as social programs pull people out of poverty and into the middle class.

FORBES: The Finances Of The Global Middle Class