The 2023 Capacity to Combat Corruption (CCC) Index

Argentina’s score was almost unchanged from 2022, stabilizing after a three-year negative trajectory. The country fell from 6th to 7th place in the overall ranking, and remains behind the regional average in terms of legal capacity. Executive-judicial branch tensions have featured prominently in the past year.

Bolivia remained in 14th place in the Index, a position it has held since 2020. The country experienced its most significant setback in the civil society and media category, which decreased by 10%. Bolivia ranks ahead only of Venezuela in the variable evaluating judicial independence, and analysts have pointed to the continued politicization of Bolivia’s justice system over the past year.

Following a three-year decline in the Index, Brazil’s overall score was relatively stable. Brazil’s score in the democracy and political institutions category increased, reflecting their endurance after several years of strain. The country registered improvement in the variables assessing the independence and efficiency of anti-corruption agencies and the judiciary, and its largest variable-level setback was in the quality of lawmaking and ruling processes.

Chile’s overall score dropped by 3% year-on-year, indicating a degree of stagnation in its fight against corruption. Major corruption investigations continue to advance, but heightened levels of politicization have affected some institutions over the past year. Anti-corruption principles are likely to be part of a new proposed constitution, which will be put to a referendum on December 17.

Colombia’s score was relatively stable, although it fell from eighth to ninth in the overall ranking. Colombia’s score declined mainly in the category of civil society and media, followed by legal capacity. There was moderate improvement in the democracy and political institutions category, reversing a previous downward trend, but Colombia remains behind the regional average in that category.

Despite a 5% setback in its overall score, Costa Rica maintained its second-place ranking, and its 2023 score remained above levels from 2021 and 2020. The country experienced setbacks in key indicators related to the chief public prosecutor’s office, campaign finance and the quality of the press, but it retained its top three ranking in those variables.

The Dominican Republic has maintained its progress in tackling corruption, reflected in a 4% improvement that allowed the country to retain the 5th place in the Index. Most gains were registered within the legal capacity category, which improved by 11% since 2022. However, the country had setbacks within the civil society and media category.

Ecuador’s score had a slight 3% year-on-year decline, causing it to fall from 9th to 10th place in the Index. Despite political uncertainty driven by impeachment proceedings against President Guillermo Lasso, Ecuador’s anti-corruption environment was one of relative stability over the past year. The change in its overall score was driven by setbacks in the legal capacity category, which declined by 6% year-on-year.

Guatemala had the sharpest decline in the Index of all countries in 2023 (down 15% year-on-year), consolidating a four-year downward trajectory. While Guatemala remained in the 13th position, it now ranks closer to 14th placed Bolivia than it does to 12th placed Mexico. The Index registered substantial regressions in key variables, reflecting perceived democratic backsliding over the past year.

Mexico’s score continued its downward trend for a fourth consecutive year, declining by 4% but retaining its 12th place ranking. The most pronounced downgrade came in the category of civil society and media, as Mexican journalists continue to face adverse working conditions. Mexico lags behind the regional average in the legal capacity category and had a 14% year-on-year setback in the variable assessing anti-corruption agencies.

Panama’s overall score increased by 9% year-on-year, continuing its three-year upward trajectory in the Index. Most gains were registered in the legal capacity category, where Panama saw improvements in key variables that evaluate anti-corruption agencies and the chief public prosecutor’s office. Investigations into high-level cases of alleged corruption have gone forward.

Paraguay’s score rose by 4%, continuing a four-year positive trend, though it remained in 11th place in the overall ranking. The country had moderate year-on-year improvements across all three categories. Despite major anti-corruption investigations and some progress in AML enforcement, Paraguay remains below the regional average in its overall score, as severe issues continue to undermine anti-corruption efforts.

Despite slight setbacks across all categories, Peru remained in 4th place in the CCC Index, a position it has held since 2021. Peru’s minor year-on-year decline in its overall score indicates that the country has still been able to investigate corruption amid political instability. The removal of former President Pedro Castillo, who was impeached in December 2022 after attempting to dissolve Congress in a self-coup, has exacerbated existing political tensions.

Uruguay continues to rank at the top of the Index, despite a 6% drop in its overall score and declining scores in all three categories. Even though the country has seen a slight downward trend since 2021, it still outperforms the regional average in all variables. Uruguay registered setbacks in key legal capacity variables, and a corruption scandal involving the president's former chief of security led some observers to question the country’s reputation for good governance.

Venezuela placed last in the Index’s ranking, marking the country’s fifth consecutive year with the lowest score in the region. After modest gains in 2022, Venezuela had setbacks in each of the three categories in 2023 that reflect renewed threats to press freedom and civil liberties from the government of Nicolás Maduro.