Regional Insights: Latin America & Caribbean

Countries: 19 | Average Country Score: 0.462 | Median Country Rank: 73

Comprising 19 ranked countries, the Latin America & Caribbean region has generally not performed well on the CGGI. In each of the past five years, the average score for the region’s countries has lagged behind every other region except Africa. Only two countries from the region were within the top 40 in CGGI 2025, while the rest of the countries ranked in the bottom half of the Index.

This year, we added a new country from the region to the CGGI—Bolivia—which debuts with a global rank of 110^th.

Regional performance trends: The average score for the region’s countries declined from 2021 to 2025, and fell further behind relative to the next best performing region—the Middle East, Central & West Asia. Only three countries—Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Venezuela—saw their scores improve over this five-year period, out of which only Uruguay improved in rank, from 38^th in 2021 to 33^rd in 2025.

Pillar trends: Across all seven pillars, the region saw a general decline from 2021 to 2025, especially in Leadership & Foresight, where the decline was significant. There was a slight recovery in the past year, as average scores rose in two pillars: Strong Institutions and Helping People Rise. A standout performer was the Dominican Republic (64^th in 2025), which improved in five pillars in the past year.

Data Trends

Costa Rica has made substantial progress in its Data Capability and Implementation indicators. The country successfully concluded negotiations in 2025 to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, the world’s first standalone digital trade agreement, which includes Singapore, New Zealand, and Chile.¹

Bucking the regional trend, Uruguay excelled in Leadership & Foresight and Helping People Rise over 2021–2025—driven by a resilient economy that weathered the pandemic in 2021–2022 relatively well and recovered in 2024 after a severe drought.²

Guatemala has maintained a consistently high rank for Price Stability (15th in 2025), with its low, controlled inflation rate underpinned by prudent monetary and fiscal policies.³

Endnotes

1. Sharon, A. (25 January 2025). Strengthening the Global Digital Economy: DEPA Expands with Costa Rica. OpenGov Asia. https://opengovasia.com/2025/01/25/strengthening-the-global-digital-economy-depa-expands-with-costa-rica/
2. Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). (n.d.) Uruguay Economy, Politics and GDP Growth Summary. https://country.eiu.com/uruguay
3. International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept. (5 August 2024). Guatemala: 2024 Article IV Consultation‑Press Release; and Staff Report. https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400287398.002