latin america

Culture / 6 days ago

Same effort, different score: The wildly uneven grading systems of South America

In a striking visual overview of educational systems across South America, the grading scales used by countries vary widely, reflecting the region’s complex histories and educational infrastructures. The map shows how school grades are awarded from “worst” to “best,” with ranges like 0–10, 1–5, 0–20, and even 1–100 appearing in different nations. While superficially this might look like a quirky oddity, it actually reveals deeper truths about how schooling and standards operate in Latin America.

Environment / 6 weeks ago

These are South America’s safest countries to live in amid cartels and chaos

Latin America has long been associated with high crime rates, violent cartels, and drug trafficking networks that dominate global headlines. Countries like El Salvador, Colombia, and Mexico are often cited for their struggles with narco-violence, gang warfare, and soaring homicide rates. This paints a picture of a region where safety is a daily concern. For many outsiders, “Latin America” has become almost synonymous with insecurity.

Culture / 7 weeks ago

New index ranks Colombia, Venezuela, and Uruguay as most similar nations to Brazil

Brazil is often celebrated as a country like no other, as the land of samba, football, lush rainforests, and a unique Portuguese-speaking identity in a Spanish-speaking continent. Yet, new data shows Brazil might not be as culturally isolated as many believe. According to the Country Similarity Index, which evaluates nations across demographics, culture, politics, infrastructure, and geography, several Latin American countries share strikingly similar profiles.

Politics / 11 weeks ago

Former Latin American presidents in jail

A striking map published by The World in Maps paints a sobering picture of Latin America’s political landscape. As of August 2025, many countries across the region have at least one former president behind bars, under house arrest or living in exile to avoid detention. The pattern, which inspired the map, underscores how corruption and abuse of power have become endemic at the highest levels of government – and how judicial systems and foreign courts are now holding former leaders to account.

Business / 11 weeks ago

The global millionaire map: Where wealth really lives in 2025

Wealth distribution across the globe has never been more uneven. A new analysis highlights an obvious global wealth imbalance, showing that North America is home to a staggering 26.7 million millionaires, followed by Asia-Pacific (17.7 million) and Europe (16.7 million). In sharp contrast, Latin America (915,000) and Africa (352,000) remain far behind, underscoring deep-rooted disparities in global economic development. These figures, drawn from data from Millionaire Migrant, paint a vivid picture of how money and opportunity are concentrated in certain regions while others continue to lag.

Environment / 14 weeks ago

A look at the countries embracing meat‑free diets

The popularity of plant‑based eating varies widely around the world, and new data show just how unevenly it is distributed. A ranking by World Population Review (WPR) lists the nations with the largest proportion of vegetarians in 2025, revealing that India far outstrips any other country when it comes to meat‑free diets.

World / 22 weeks ago

Top 10 countries with the largest Catholic populations

In a world where faith remains a powerful cultural force, recent data from World Population Review and Catholic World Mission highlight the countries with the largest Catholic populations. Unsurprisingly, Brazil emerges at the top of the list, boasting a staggering 140 million Catholics. According to the latest reports, Catholicism in Brazil dates back to 1500, when it was introduced by Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral. The faith deeply ingrained itself into Brazilian society, shaping its culture and traditions for centuries.

World / 24 weeks ago

2025 Global Optimism Rankings: Global South countries lead sentiment survey

The latest Ipsos Predictions Survey 2025 reveals a compelling trend: most people across the globe are optimistic about the year ahead, with emerging economies leading the charge. Conducted across 33 countries, the survey found that 71% of global respondents believe 2025 will be better than 2024, continuing a consistent upward trend in future-oriented hope.

Politics / 31 weeks ago

Record deportations from the U.S. in 2024: Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras top the list

In 2024, over 287,000 migrants were deported from the United States, with the majority originating from Latin American countries. The three countries with the highest deportation figures were Mexico (87,300), Guatemala (66,440), and Honduras (45,920).

Business / 33 weeks ago

The state of the C2C shopping industry

In 2024, MercadoLibre solidified its position as a leader in the global consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace, achieving over 94 million app downloads and surpassing competitors on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This success reflects the growing momentum of C2C platforms, driven by cost-conscious buyers and the increasing appeal of second-hand commerce.

Business / 39 weeks ago

The economic giants propelling Latin America's GDP

Latin America's economy has steadily grown, with several countries making significant contributions to the region's GDP. Brazil and Mexico stand as the undisputed economic giants of Latin America.

Environment / 1 year ago

Latin America's early school start times spark student health concerns

In many parts of Latin America, children face extremely early school start times, often at 6 or 7 am, requiring them to wake up before dawn. This practice is common in countries like Colombia and Ecuador, where schools begin as early as 6:00 am, and others like Brazil and Guatemala, which have start times around 7:00 am.

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