Venezuela was once again ranked as the third most corrupt country in the world in 2025, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). 

For the second consecutive year, the South American nation placed 180th out of 182 countries, ahead of only Somalia and South Sudan.

The report shows that the Americas made no meaningful progress in fighting corruption, with a regional average score of just 42 out of 100. 

Within that context, Venezuela stands out as the worst performer in the hemisphere, scoring only 10 points, far below both the global and regional averages.

Transparency International classifies the country as a “full autocracy,” where corruption is systemic and permeates all levels of government. 

The organization notes that years of widespread illicit practices and institutional collapse have fueled poverty, malnutrition and the deterioration of public services.

The CPI is based on 13 independent data sources and measures perceived levels of public-sector corruption on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). In Latin America, only the Dominican Republic and Guyana showed slight improvements.

The report highlights how corruption has enabled organized crime to infiltrate politics in countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. However, Venezuela’s case is marked by the scale and persistence of institutional erosion. According to TI, oversight bodies have lost almost all independence, while state-owned companies have been used for personal enrichment.

At the top of the global ranking are Denmark, Finland and Singapore. In the Americas, Canada, Uruguay and Barbados score highest, though TI warns of worrying signs even among stronger democracies.

The report concludes that countries with CPI scores below 25, including Venezuela, typically suffer from repression, captured institutions and long-term instability. Without deep reforms and stronger accountability, corruption will remain a central barrier to democratic and economic recovery.