Latin America has witnessed remarkable progress in recent decades, marked by economic growth, poverty reduction, and improvements in crucial sectors such as education and healthcare. The region stands out as a leader in innovation, especially in renewable energy, fintech, and e-commerce. With a young population of 156 million and increasing integration into the global economy, Latin America presents a vast potential market for technology companies. The tech industry in the region experienced notable growth, reaching 5.6% in 2022 and totaling $517 billion.
The favorable global economic landscape, coupled with access to affordable capital in 2020 and 2021, propelled valuations and led to an unprecedented surge in mergers and acquisitions in the Latin American technology sector. This dynamic significantly eased investments by U.S. entrepreneurs in technology companies within the region.
Although the United States was the primary trading partner for nearly all Latin American countries in 2000, the region embraced multipolarity, witnessing China’s emergence as a crucial economic partner. Between 2000 and 2021, Latin American trade with China increased 28-fold, nearly twice the growth rate of trade with other emerging and middle-income economies. Despite this shift, the region not only maintained but also strengthened trade ties with the United States, reaffirming its commitment to a diversified economic landscape.
Large companies play a vital role in advancing Latin America, investing in innovative technologies, infrastructure, job creation, and training opportunities. Notable examples include Mercado Libre, an ecosystem for online commerce and payments, and Coca Cola Femsa, a leader in beverages, retail, and logistics.
The methodology for ranking the 12 most advanced countries in Latin America involves analyzing indices such as the Human Development Index and the Global Innovation Index, weighted based on web sources and Reddit opinions. The final list, encompassing countries like Ecuador, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama, Cuba, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, positions the latter as the most advanced, emphasizing its robust economy, high standard of living, and steadfast commitment to environmental protection.”
Text credits:By Journalist Flávio Bergmann
photomontage: by Vinícius Pascoal