Support for democracy is recovering in Latin America as the state loses legitimacy

Data from the 2026 Latinobarómetro report, marking the organization's 30th anniversary of monitoring the region, shows that public support for democracy in Latin America stands at 52%. This figure remains stable compared to 2024, when the region experienced a four-percentage-point recovery following a historic low of between 48% and 49%.

Simultaneously, the findings indicate that the state is losing legitimacy across the region. The data highlights a persistent tension between the recovering backing for democratic systems and the declining standing of state institutions.