In 2025, Venezuela ranked as the third most corrupt country in the world for the second consecutive year, out of 182 nations surveyed for irregular practices, according to the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International annually.
The organization documented serious acts of corruption in its report, such as “the control of revenues to sustain the political and military elite, the consolidation of corrupt networks and illicit economies, the use of state-owned enterprises as extensions of the ruling party, and the dismantling of oversight bodies,” which places Venezuela at position 180, only behind South Sudan and Somalia.
In 2024, the South American nation received the same score of 10 out of 100 points, according to this prestigious ranking recognized as one of the most serious assessments of corruption globally.
Transparency International utilizes data from 13 external sources, including the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, private consulting and risk assessment firms, and expert groups, as per their report.
Corruption System in Venezuela
The organization that studies transparency in global economies determined the strengthening of illicit economies in Venezuela after a meticulous investigation over recent years.
It detected the advancement of corrupt structures in the country, considered “a transnational criminal node” where a “symbiotic relationship between public officials and organized crime” has been established, promoting illicit economies such as drug trafficking, irregular production, and the diversion of gold and other minerals, the report asserts.
Additionally, it highlighted human trafficking and extortion involving officials at various levels, alongside criminal organizations, as serious practices of a corrupt system.
Officials and Private Sector
However, the 2025 report reveals much more.
It argues that mixed irregular operations have supported the chavista regime, which has maintained control of the country for over 25 years.
According to the report, “the corrupt have benefited from the country’s wealth, blocking nearly 4,000 million dollars,” an estimate that is not definitive and is merely a fraction of what is known to have been embezzled, it states.
The operations have identified 787 companies across 36 sectors and 1,087 individuals linked to corrupt structures, including “31 politically exposed individuals reportedly connected to these networks.” Among them, private individuals like Raúl Gorrín and Alejandro Betancourt are mentioned, with allies in sectors such as sports.
In the Index, Uruguay and Chile appear as the countries in Latin America with the least perception of corruption.
Corruption Index 2025 Transparency International