Latin America’s anti-corruption efforts stall: Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela face alarming deterioration

The fifth edition of the Anti-Corruption Capacity Index (CCC Index) reveals a challenging anti-corruption landscape across Latin America.

The study, conducted by Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) and Control Risks, highlights Mexico as one of the lowest-ranking countries in the region.

Out of the 15 countries assessed, Guatemala and Venezuela experienced significant declines in their 2023 scores compared to the previous year, while Panama made notable improvements.

The report underscores that Guatemala and Mexico have consistently worsened their scores since the Index’s first publication in 2019, making them the only two countries to experience a decline every year.

The Ranking of Capacity to Fight Corruption:

Uruguay (6.99 out of 10)
Costa Rica (6.76)
Chile (6.67)
Peru (5.53)
Dominican Republic (5.42)
Panama (5.39)
Argentina (5.07)
Brazil (4.83)
Colombia (4.78)
Ecuador (4.68)
Paraguay (4.61)
Mexico (3.87)
Guatemala (2.86)
Bolivia (2.56)
Venezuela (1.46)

The CCC Index’s fifth edition covers 15 countries, representing 96% of Latin America’s Gross Domestic Product.

Rather than measuring perceived corruption levels, the Index evaluates countries based on their effectiveness in combating corruption.

Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of prosecuting and punishing corrupt individuals.

The CCC Index examines 14 key variables, including the independence of judicial institutions, the strength of investigative journalism, and the resources available to combat white-collar crime.

It relies on comprehensive data and a survey of anti-corruption experts from risk watchdogs, academia, civil society, the media, and the private sector.

Key Findings:

• Uruguay reclaimed the top position in the Index, despite experiencing a consecutive decline. Costa Rica and Chile maintained their second and third places, respectively, with moderate setbacks.
• Panama showed the largest proportional increase in its overall score, primarily driven by improvements in its legal capacity. Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Paraguay have improved their scores for three consecutive years.
• Guatemala and Venezuela experienced significant declines in their overall scores.
• Guatemala and Mexico are the only two countries that have consistently worsened their scores since the Index’s first publication in 2019.