Mexico recorded its worst score ever on Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and in so doing fell 14 spots to a ranking of 140 out of 180 nations surveyed.
Transparency International released its annual CPI survey on Tuesday, based on interviews of financial risk analysts, businessmen and academics, plus 13 different corruption surveys and assessments, as well as data sources that included the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
The survey refers to the 2024 calendar year featuring the final nine months of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s six-year term and the first three months of the current Claudia Sheinbaum administration.
The findings suggest that López Obrador’s Inauguration Day promise to end corruption and improve its CPI ranking went unfulfilled. Not only did Mexico tumble in the rankings this year (to two spots below where it stood when López Obrador took office), but its points total also fell under 30 for the first time since 2019.
Transparency Mexicana, the group’s office in Mexico, said the results demonstrate the uncertainty surrounding reforms to the country’s judicial system and to the Public Information and Data Protection Institute (INAI). Other concerns include impunity linked to major scandals, including the Odebrecht, Pemex Agronitrogenados and Segalmex scandals.
The report also cited a lack of accountability related to government audits that find discrepancies, and a rise in corruption cases linking state governments to organized crime.
Other findings reveal that 44% of those surveyed believed corruption in Mexico increased in 2024. Another 34% admitted that they had acquiesced to a payoff or bribe request from a public employee during the same time period.
Earning 26 out of a possible 100 points, Mexico fared poorly in comparison to its principal economic competitors in Latin America, namely Brazil and Chile. Brazil, with a score of 34, ranks No. 107, while Chile’s 63 points has it perched at No. 32.
Mexico also sits in last place among the 38 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and graded better than only Russia among the G20 nations.
At the same time, the United States received its worst CPI score since the current index was established in 2012, scoring 65 points to land in 28th place.
The U.S. joined Mexico as one of 47 countries to receive its lowest score ever.
The factors that contributed to the U.S. decline are not made clear, but Transparency International noted that corruption is fueling environmental crime and impunity across the Americas.
The watchdog group said that two of the biggest challenges humanity now faces are strongly intertwined: corruption and the climate crisis.
With reports from Animal Político, Milenio and Axios
As long as the appetite for drugs in the US stays strong (I see no reason it won’t) and drugs remain illegal (except for marijuana they will) unfortunately mass corruption will be a huge issue in Mexico. Legalized drugs, which are prevalent and easily available anyways, would greatly reduce the issues that Mexico deals with. Unfortunately the US would like to blame its drug problem on Mexico and it can’t be honest with itself about the damage illegal drugs cause.
This is so true.
The USA is corrupt on this issue.
The only thing that drugs have to do with this rating is that Mexico officials, federal and local, are on the take. On the take for drugs, traffic violations, environmental violations, building permits, business harassments, etc. They look the other way or arrest those that are in direct competition of those that pay off officials. This is not an opportunity to throw mud to the north, this is a wake up call to those that want more and better investment in Mexico. And to be aware that if you want to do business in Mexico, you better know where the back door is and have someone covering your back as you walk in. No place to come if you only have an idea….
I agree
Violence is the problem and it isn’t a necessary aspect of the black market. The USA is far more dangerously corrupt being turned onits head by a felon with corrupt russian ties busily bringing sabotsge and racist fascism to the USA and Europe. Mexico would have to try very hard to equal this disgrace.
with the “trafficing income stream” for the Cartels being diminished, I fear the Cartel organization ( especially lower member ranks ) will expand their extortion of local Mexican businesses; that shake-downs of visiting tourist will increase ( the cops on the Cartel payroll will be seening less Cartel payments ); and Mexico’s highway infrastructure will become the proverbial “fish in a barrel” with truckload hijacking of manufactured goods being transported to markets; and I believe a general feeling of safety for the every day people living in this wonderful culture of Mexico . . .
((( edit to my above – hit the post key too soon ))) . . . the feeling of safety will become a memory as crime will rear its ugly head more brazenly . . .
My fear as well. It could get really ugly….
Hard to believe it could get any worse! It’s really ugly now!
I propose a new reality tv show: ‘Survivor Mexico’
A big prize for the person who can manage to drive a pimped out shiny black SUV from Nogales to Puerto Vallarta without being robbed by the police real or fake, hassled by the Guardia National, both using made up infracctions, have your vehicle outright stolen by cartel operatives, not get extorted by real or fake idrug interdiction nspectors of various stripes.
I doubt the prize would ever be won…
I simply do not see a drug problem in the US as a cause for corruption and violence in Mexico.
Corruption and violence IS Mexico. Oh sure today the cartels are peddling dope- but wave a wand and make all the drugs go POOF and do you understand that tomorrow Mexico will be every bit as corrupt and violent?
Drugs are not the problem.
The cartels and all their machinations are the problem. Please understand and accept that – otherwise everyone will continue trying to fix something that isn’t the problem- and you’re gonna end up with…. corruption and violence in Mexico.
The vast majority of cartel profits come from drugs. The vast majority of payoffs to government officials are a result of the drug trade. If drugs were legalized those profits the cartels realize would come to an end overnight. And with it the majority of the corruption. Certainly not all, but the majority.
The US government, and the Mexican government, have too much to lose if drugs were made legal. Therefore it all will continue. The war on drugs will continue indefinitely. Because those in government care more about themselves and their pocketbooks than they do about their communities.
Corruption is in both countries unless you are MAGA blind. But I agree that violence is not an essential aspect of the black market.
The cartels run Mexico’s government. You could even say they are the government. Courageous leaders are killed. I hate to say it, but perhaps the American military is the only solution.
Claudia seems to ignore this in her morning comedy show. Corruption is the most importan cultural heritage from Spain. It is inbred, made worse by the current 4Tragedy narco goverment
I have heard that, but it is the same from Great Britain that is long entranced in the USA and thus the argument is specious.
I can’t imagine anything more disruptive or damaging to the life of the Mexican citizen than the US military showing up on the shores of Mexico to fight a drug war which will never be won. Btw you do know this was already tried?
… in some Jalisco communities the police are little more than window dressing. It’s the cartel operatives that rule the roost…and they like things nice n quiet… no problems, no petty crime tolerated. They have what is locally known as the ‘3 strikes rule’..
Do a B&E?
Strike 1, you get a severe talking to…Strike 2 and you get beat up… Strike 3 and your new home is a shallow grave.
There is little or no crime in these communities, and ya know what? Locals, snowbirds and tourists alike like it that way.
Don’t worry….’Don the Con’ will quickly put the USA at the top of the worlds corruption list.
Aye!
This is obviously out of date and is a libel against la la Presidenta and a windfall for ssubversive president trump whose regime reigns in corruption.