Open Budget Survey 2025 places Dominican Republic second worldwide in transparency

Santo Domingo.- The General Directorate of Budget (DIGEPRES) formally received the results of the 2025 Open Budget Survey (OBS), which place the Dominican Republic among the world’s leading countries in budget transparency, scoring 82 out of 100 points.

According to the report, the country ranked second globally, behind Brazil, and first in Latin America, including Central America and the Caribbean. The results were presented by Juan Castillo, executive director of Fundación Solidaridad, to Budget Director José Rijo Presbot, in the presence of government officials, oversight bodies, international organizations, civil society representatives, and technical teams involved in the national budget process.

The OBS, considered the only independent, comparative, and evidence-based global assessment of public budget transparency, evaluates access to fiscal information, opportunities for citizen participation, and oversight by Congress and the Chamber of Accounts. The 2025 edition covered 82 countries and reviewed data available through December 2024.

The report highlights the Dominican Republic as a leading example of sustained progress in fiscal transparency. Between 2008 and 2025, the country improved its score from approximately 12 to 82 points, marking a 70-point increase—one of the largest globally—driven by the consistent publication of key budget documents, strengthened institutional capacity within DIGEPRES, and expanded collaboration with civil society.

Budget Director José Rijo Presbot described the results as both a recognition of national progress and a commitment to continued improvement, stressing that transparency goes beyond publishing data and must strengthen public trust and the quality of fiscal debate. He also emphasized that open budgeting aligns with President Luis Abinader’s government agenda to enhance accountability, citizen participation, and efficient public spending.