Corruption continues to plague the Americas, with little progress made in addressing the issue, according to a new report released on February 10, 2026. The findings, detailed in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), highlight a concerning stagnation in efforts to combat corruption across the region, a problem that increasingly fuels organized crime and undermines democratic institutions.
The CPI, which ranks 182 countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption, uses a scale of zero to 100, where zero indicates high levels of corruption and 100 signifies very low corruption. The index draws upon 13 external sources, including the World Bank and risk assessment firms.
Latin America as a whole scores an average of 42 out of 100 on the CPI, and the report notes that 12 of the region’s 33 countries have “considerably worsened” since 2012. This lack of improvement comes as concerns grow about the intersection of corruption and rising violence, particularly in countries considered relatively stable democracies.
Despite the overall negative trend, two nations have shown “significant improvements” in reducing perceived corruption: the Dominican Republic, with a score of 37, and Guyana, at 40. However, Venezuela (10), Nicaragua (14), and Haiti (16) remain at the bottom of the rankings, characterized by high levels of repression, systemic corruption, and weak or compromised institutions.
The report also points to a worrying trend in Colombia (37), Brazil (35), and Mexico (27), where corruption has enabled transnational criminal organizations to infiltrate politics, fostering impunity and injustice. This infiltration is a key factor driving instability and eroding public trust.
Beyond political corruption, the CPI also highlights issues in the delivery of public services. Investigations are currently underway in Peru regarding alleged bribery in the school feeding program, designed to circumvent health and safety regulations. In Argentina, authorities are investigating potential corruption related to the management of funds allocated for medications for people with disabilities.
“To improve the lives of people in the region and increase resilience to organized crime, It’s necessary to prioritize the fight against corruption on the public agenda,” said Luciana Torchiaro, Transparency International’s Regional Advisor for the Americas and the Caribbean. “This requires protecting fundamental freedoms, strengthening transparency in public procurement, and enforcing the law through a strong and independent judiciary. Fighting corruption also involves strengthening international cooperation to investigate and sanction transnational cases and closing legal loopholes that allow illicit money to cross borders.”
The CPI also warns that El Salvador (32) and Ecuador (33) are experiencing a decline in transparency and civic freedoms, with laws restricting funding access for non-governmental organizations and hindering their operations. The report also raised concerns about “intimidation and hostility” towards independent media in these countries, limiting their ability to hold the government accountable.
Here’s a breakdown of scores from the 2025 Corruption Perception Index in Latin America:
- Uruguay (73)
- Chile (63)
- Costa Rica (56)
- Cuba (40)
- Guyana (40)
- Colombia (37)
- República Dominicana (37)
- Argentina (36)
- Brasil (35)
- Ecuador (33)
- Panamá (33)
- El Salvador (32)
- Perú (30)
- Bolivia (28)
- México (27)
- Guatemala (26)
- Paraguay (24)
- Honduras (22)
- Haití (16)
- Nicaragua (14)
- Venezuela (10).
In 2024, the CPI also revealed persistent challenges in the region. Uruguay led the regional ranking with 76 points, while Chile registered 63 and Costa Rica 58. Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela were among the countries with the worst perceptions of corruption, scoring 16, 14, and 10 respectively – scores that have remained unchanged from the 2025 report. The development underscores the urgent need for sustained and comprehensive anti-corruption efforts throughout Latin America.
Here’s a breakdown of scores from the 2024 Corruption Perception Index in Latin America:
- Uruguay (76)
- Chile (63)
- Costa Rica (58)
- Cuba (41)
- Guyana (39)
- Colombia (39)
- Argentina (37)
- República Dominicana (36)
- Brasil (34)
- Panamá (33)
- Ecuador (32)
- Perú (31)
- Bolivia (28)
- Guatemala (28)
- México (26)
- Honduras (22)
- Paraguay (24)
- Haití (16)
- Nicaragua (14)
- Venezuela (10).
