Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index shows that only the Dominican Republic and Guyana have improved significantly since 2012, while 12 of 33 countries in the region have regressed. The average score in the Americas is 42 out of 100, signaling stagnation in anti-corruption efforts. Nations like Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia are among those impacted by this decline.
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released by Transparency International, assesses 182 countries and territories based on perceived levels of public sector corruption, on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). In the Americas, the average score stands at 42 points, with no significant progress in the region.
Since 2012, only two countries have shown notable improvements: the Dominican Republic with 37 points and Guyana with 40. In contrast, 12 out of 33 countries have deteriorated substantially. The report notes that years of government inaction have eroded democracy and enabled transnational organized crime, directly harming populations.
Nations such as Mexico (27 points), Brazil (35), and Colombia (37) have experienced declines that undermine peace and foster impunity. Costa Rica (56), Uruguay (73), and Canada (75) rank as the region's strongest democracies. At the other end, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Haiti grapple with high violence, insecurity, repression, failed institutions, and structural corruption.
The United States recorded its lowest-ever score of 64 points, continuing a downward trend. Luciana Torchiaro, regional advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean at Transparency International, stated: “To improve people's lives and build resilience against organized crime, governments must prioritize anti-corruption efforts in their agendas. This requires protecting fundamental freedoms, strengthening transparency in public procurement, and enforcing the law through a strong and independent judiciary. Fighting corruption also means enhancing international cooperation to investigate and sanction transnational cases and closing legal loopholes that allow illicit money to cross borders.”
The report calls for concrete actions to reverse this regional trend.
