Global Corruption Barometer Latin America & The Caribbean 2019 published by Transparency International

The Global Corruption Barometer-Latin America and the Caribbean, published by Transparency International, presents the largest, most detailed set of public opinion data on citizens’ views on corruption and their direct experiences of bribery in Latin America and the Caribbean. Between January and March 2019, the Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) surveyed more than 17,000 citizens in 18 countries across the region. The results show that more than half of all citizens think corruption is getting worse in their country and that their government is doing a bad job at tackling it.The GCB found more than one in five people who accessed public services, such as water and electricity, paid a bribe in the preceding year. This equates to approximately 56 million citizens in the 18 countries surveyed. The GCB also reveals that corruption is hitting some of the most vulnerable people the hardest; women are more likely to pay bribes for health services and public school education. Furthermore, for the first time, the GCB sheds light on sexual extortion, or sextortion, one of the most significant forms of gendered corruption. The data also highlights vote-buying, threats of retaliation if citizens don’t vote a certain way, and the spread of fake news.Despite this, the GCB raises hope for positive change. Seventy-seven per cent of people think that citizens can help stop corruption.