Corruption Perceptions by Country in 2023
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Corruption Perceptions by Country in 2023

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See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

A graphic ranking countries by Corruption Perceptions Index, showing that Uruguay ranks higher than the U.S. and Spain

Corruption Perceptions by Country in 2023

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

How do corruption perceptions in Latin America compare to other countries?

In this graphic, Latinometrics uses data from Transparency International to provide visual context to corruption opinions across nations.

What is the Corruption Perceptions Index?

Every year, a German organization called Transparency International embarks on measuring corruption in each of the world’s countries. It does so through a metric they’ve branded as the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which, as the name implies, measures how corrupt a given country is perceived by the people living there.

As with any such index, the methodology leaves room for criticism. Many will notice that according to this list, Cuba is Latin America’s fourth least corrupt country. The correct way of interpreting the index is that Cubans consider their country less corrupt than, say, Colombians consider their own country. It’s a subjective measure.

Corruption Perceptions in Latin America and the World

Latin American countries range from Venezuela, which, as of 2023, ranks second to worst worldwide, to Uruguay, which is tied with Japan and perceived as less corrupt than some of the most developed nations like the U.S. and France.

CountryCorruption Perceptions Index score
Germany 🇩🇪78
Canada 🇨🇦76
Australia 🇦🇺75
Uruguay 🇺🇾73
Japan 🇯🇵73
France 🇫🇷71
United Kingdom 🇬🇧71
United States 🇺🇸69
Chile 🇨🇱66
South Korea 🇰🇷63
Spain 🇪🇸60
Italy 🇮🇹56
Costa Rica 🇨🇷55
Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦52
Malaysia 🇲🇾50
China 🇨🇳42
Cuba 🇨🇺42
Vietnam 🇻🇳41
South Africa 🇿🇦41
Colombia 🇨🇴40
India 🇮🇳39
Ethiopia 🇪🇹37
Argentina 🇦🇷37
Brazil 🇧🇷36
Dominican Republic 🇩🇴35
Egypt 🇪🇬35
Panama 🇵🇦35
Indonesia 🇮🇩34
Ecuador 🇪🇨34
Peru 🇵🇪33
Mexico 🇲🇽31
El Salvador 🇸🇻31
Pakistan 🇵🇰29
Bolivia 🇧🇴29
Paraguay 🇵🇾28
Russia 🇷🇺26
Nigeria 🇳🇬25
Iran 🇮🇷24
Bangladesh 🇧🇩24
Honduras 🇭🇳23
Guatemala 🇬🇹23
Nicaragua 🇳🇮17
Venezuela 🇻🇪13

Source: Transparency International.

Unlike most countries in Latin America, which have experienced turmoil and drastic changes over the years, Uruguay’s corruption score has remained stable. This indicates healthy power transitions and is a testament to Uruguay’s trusted democratic and judicial systems.

Other Notable Trends

Turning back the clock on this index exposes improvements and descents into tragedy. On the improvements side, the Dominican Republic has made strides to regain its people’s trust, bettering its score by over 20 percentage points in the past decade.

In the early 2010s, the Dominican Republic was struggling with bribery allegations and a weak and unwilling-to-prosecute judicial system. Just last year, 20 former officials were arrested in the largest anti-corruption probe in the country’s history, which uncovered widespread embezzlement in government contracts.

Conversely, Venezuela and Nicaragua have both continued to undermine institutions and concentrate power in the hands of undemocratic leaders.

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Politics

Ranked: The World’s Most and Least Popular Leaders in 2025

U.S. President Trump posted a 48% approval rating in April, down from 52% in January.

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This graphic shows the world's most and least popular leaders in major economies as of April 2025.

The World’s Most and Least Popular Leaders in 2025

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Global approval ratings for major world leaders continue to shift amid political transitions, elections, and economic uncertainty.

Since we last published a similar graphic in January, the Trump administration’s policies—raising tariffs on trade partners and cracking down on illegal immigration—have also sparked discussions about the role national leaders will play in negotiating with the Republican president.

This updated graphic shows approval ratings for leaders in major economies as of April 2025, based on figures from Morning Consult. Ratings reflect a seven-day moving average of adult residents in each country. Sample sizes vary by country. Figures were collected between April 1–7, 2025, and have been rounded for simplicity.

Modi Still on Top — But With a Slight Dip

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains the world’s most approved leader, holding a strong 73% approval rating, despite a slight drop from 75% in January. His disapproval rate rose modestly from 19% to 21%, but he continues to outperform his global peers by a wide margin.

In second place is Argentina’s President Javier Milei, who, with his fiscal austerity policies and alignment with President Trump, has the approval of 61% of Argentines.

LeaderCountryApproveNeutralDisapprove
Narendra ModiIndia73%6%21%
Javier MileiArgentina61%5%34%
Claudia SheinbaumMexico60%8%32%
Karin Keller-SutterSwitzerland56%19%26%
Anthony AlbaneseAustralia54%11%35%
Mark CarneyCanada50%20%30%
Donald TrumpUnited States48%6%46%
Donald TuskPoland43%10%47%
Jonas Gahr StøreNorway39%14%47%
Giorgia MeloniItaly38%6%56%
Dick SchoofNetherlands36%20%43%
Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaBrazil35%7%58%
Christian StockerAustria34%21%44%
Ulf KristerssonSweden34%11%55%
Bart de WeverBelgium34%16%50%
Pedro SánchezSpain34%6%60%
Recep Tayyip ErdoğanTurkey33%18%48%
Cyril RamaphosaSouth Africa32%10%57%
Keir StarmerUnited Kingdom28%11%61%
Olaf ScholzGermany21%7%71%
Emmanuel MacronFrance19%7%73%
Shigeru IshibaJapan19%15%66%
Yoon Suk YeolKorea17%7%76%
Petr FialaCzech Republic17%8%75%

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum ranks third, with a solid 60% approval rating—just a few points behind her predecessor and political mentor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who left office with a 64% approval rating.

Carney Replaces Trudeau with Higher Ratings

In Canada, Mark Carney became Prime Minister following Justin Trudeau’s resignation and now holds a 50% approval rating—a notable increase from Trudeau’s 35% at the end of his government. Carney’s higher popularity was a decisive factor in securing a Liberal Party victory over the Conservatives in the April 2025 federal election.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted a 48% approval rating in April, down from 52% in January.

Fragility in Europe and Asia

Rising cost-of-living pressures, stalled reforms, and voter fatigue continue to weigh on incumbents across Europe and Asia.

At least seven leaders now face disapproval ratings above 60%, including:

  • Emmanuel Macron (France)
  • Pedro Sánchez (Spain)
  • Olaf Scholz (Germany)
  • Keir Starmer (United Kingdom)
  • Shigeru Ishiba (Japan)
  • Petr Fiala (Czech Republic)
  • Yoon Suk Yeol (South Korea)

Yoon currently holds the highest disapproval rating globally at 71%. South Korea faces political instability ahead of a June 3 snap election, called after Yoon was impeached by parliament and removed from office by the Constitutional Court over his attempt to impose martial law in December.

Learn More on the Voronoi App 

Looking for more political and data-driven insights? Check out: Top U.S. Industries by Lobbying Spend in 2023.

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