New study shows corruption is growing in Latin America and COVID-19 isn't helping

Earlier this week, Transparency International released the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), in which 180 countries were analyzed to determine how corruption was perceived there – and Latin American nations appear to “have ground to a halt in the fight against corruption” for the third consecutive year, obtaining an average rating of 43 out of 100.

Con una puntuación media de 43/100 por tercer año consecutivo, los países de las Américas están paralizados en la lucha contra la corrupción.

➡️ https://t.co/UrJ6ZOwAdT#IPC2021 #CPI2021 pic.twitter.com/1FP3fjhLxa

— Transparency International (@anticorruption) January 25, 2022

As expected, Venezuela was at the bottom of the ranking in 2021 – placing 177th and obtaining both the highest corruption index score in the region and the lowest rating in its history.

Uruguay (18) was at the top of the ranking in Latin America, trailing only Canada (13) by 5 points. Chile and the United States were tied for 27th place, but Chile’s recent election of left-wing Gabriel Boric could mean trouble for the copper-rich Andean nation.

But Chile isn’t the only developed nation in danger of becoming more corrupt.

According to the data, the United States and Canada have also shown deterioration over the last ten years.

The study also found a that a dangerous rise in authoritarianism has become “dangerously normalized” in Central America --  especially in Nicaragua and El Salvador.

Likewise, the report highlighted the direct relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and corruption and warned that funds and resources destined to combat the health emergency is often taken by unscrupulous officials.

Take a look at the ranking below to discover Latin America’s five most corrupt nations.

Venezuela: Occupying position 177 worldwide, the Maduro administration only scored 14 points out of a possible 100.

Nicaragua: Given the disputed elections that led to the re-election of Daniel Ortega, amid notorious attacks on human rights and civil liberties, the Central American country only scored 20 points in the ranking.

Honduras: The country’s first socialist woman president was sworn in today right as a institutional crisis is debated in its Congress. With that in mind, Honduras scored 23 points.

Guatemala: There have been attacks against the press and the political opposition and the country scored a mere 25 points.

Dominican Republic: Although the Dominican Republic has improved over the last two years, gaining two points, it still earned a lowly 30 points.

Read the full report here.