Introduction
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently conducted its first-ever survey on the determinants of public trust in institutions across Latin America and the Caribbean. The survey, conducted between 2023 and 2025 in ten countries, reveals that insecurity and violence are the primary concerns of citizens in this region.
Regional Overview
The survey highlights that crime and organized crime have expanded in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region with the world’s highest homicide rate. Specific instances include:
- Peru: Extortion and murders led to protests resulting in the resignation of President Dina Boluarte in October.
- Brazil: A police operation in Rio resulted in over 120 deaths, making it the deadliest operation in its history.
- Ecuador: The country faces a surge in narco-related violence, making it the nation with the highest homicide rate in Latin America.
Trust in Institutions
The survey indicates low trust in governments (48%) but higher credibility in the armed forces (55%). Key concerns for citizens include security, corruption, and economic issues.
According to the report, “The armed forces are the institution in ALC (Latin America and the Caribbean) with the highest levels of trust,” based on data collected this year from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Paraguay.
Most respondents consider crime a significant threat to their country. On average, 60% identified crime or violence as one of the top three issues.
Peru (75%) and Paraguay (45%) rank insecurity and violence as their top concerns.
Survey Methodology
The OECD survey, the first of its kind, was conducted in 2023 among member states (Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico) and in 2025 among Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. In each country, approximately 2,000 people were surveyed.
Distrust in Government
When asked, “What are the three most important problems facing (the country)?”, climate change (around 10%) and the spread of misinformation or dangers from social media (below 10%) rank low in concern.
Despite nearly half (48%) of Latin Americans expressing low or no confidence in their governments, the survey shows significant differences in evaluations among countries.
Mexico and Ecuador have higher trust in their governments (54% and 50%, respectively), while Paraguay and Guatemala (27%) show the least trust. Peru, with only 20%, recently appointed its seventh president in a decade.
Other valued institutions include international organizations and media, slightly below the armed forces (over 40%). However, courts and justice systems, along with Congresses, have the lowest trust ratings overall.
The OECD report states that economic problems are a key condition for distrust, with 82% of Latin Americans expressing concern about their financial situation, significantly impacting public trust.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the main concerns of Latin American citizens? Insecurity and violence are top concerns, with 60% of respondents identifying crime or violence as one of the top three issues.
- How do citizens view different institutions? The armed forces have the highest trust levels (55%), followed by international organizations and media (over 40%). Courts and justice systems, along with Congresses, have the lowest trust ratings.
- What percentage of Latin Americans distrust their governments? Nearly half (48%) of Latin Americans express low or no confidence in their governments.
- What factors contribute to the distrust in governments? Economic concerns are a significant factor, with 82% of Latin Americans worried about their financial situation.
