Corruption Perceptions Index 2023

AMERICAS With two-thirds of the countries in the region having a score under 50 out of 100 on the CPI, the Americas shows considerable challenges in the fight against corruption. The lack of independence of the judiciary in the region is one of the main problems. It undermines the rule of law and promotes impunity for the powerful and criminals, to the detriment of the people and the common good. In Latin America and the Caribbean, opacity and undue influence renders many justice systems across the region incapable of applying the law effectively in an impartial manner or exercising their function as a check on other branches of government, which is fundamental for all well- functioning democracies. The sense of impunity and the inability of prosecutors and judges to proceed impartially and guarantee fair trials and equality before the law significantly impacts public trust in the judiciary. This, in turn, discourages reporting, as the institution is perceived as corrupt, unreliable and unsafe. The most severely affected are the poorest and most vulnerable groups, such as women, indigenous people, Afro- descendants, sexual minorities and migrants. These groups often experience discrimination when seeking justice. The Americas urgently needs more robust and independent judiciaries to enhance justice, tackle impunity and face the growth of transnational corruption networks. Also, judicial and prosecutorial appointments and dismissals must be transparent and based on experience and performance to prevent interference. 32 COUNTRIES 43 AVERAGE SCORE TOP SCORERS BOTTOM SCORERS NICARAGUA URUGUAY HAITI CANADA 76 /100 73 /100 69 /100 69 /100 17 /100 17 /100 13 /100 VENEZUELA BARBADOS UNITED STATES LATEST IMPROVERS LATEST DECLINERS NEW MAXIMUM SCORES NEW MINIMUM SCORES COLOMBIA 40 and DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 35 CUBA 42 , EL SALVADOR 31 , GUATEMALA 23 , NICARAGUA 17 , PERU 33 and VENEZUELA 17 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (+7 points since 2020) 35 /100 ARGENTINA (-8 points since 2019) 37 /100 HONDURAS (-6 points since 2018) 23 /100 NICARAGUA (-8 points since 2018) 17 /100 VENEZUELA (-5 points since 2018) 13 /100 TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL 14 Embargoed until 07.01am CET (Berlin) 30 January 2024