Nayib Bukele leads the presidential approval ranking in Latin America in August 2026
The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, has reaffirmed his leadership in the region by positioning himself once again in first place in the public image ranking of Latin American leaders, according to the most recent report from the firm CB Global Data, published this August 12, 2026.
With solid support of 68.7%, Bukele consolidates his popularity after experiencing growth compared to the July measurement, when he obtained 67.4%. The breakdown of the study details that 40.3% of respondents rate his administration as “very good,” while 28.4% consider it “good.” The survey, conducted between August 5 and 10 with a sample of 3,981 people, has a margin of error of 1.6%.
The podium and the top-rated leaders
The CB Global Data study highlights the six leaders with the highest approval ratings on the continent this month:
- Nayib Bukele (El Salvador): 68.7%
- Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico): 66.5%
- Keiko Fujimori (Peru): 55.0%
- Abelardo de la Espriella (Colombia): 52.4%
- Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brazil): 51.9%
- Rodrigo Paz (Bolivia): 50.5%
The impact of the Salvadoran security model
Bukele’s sustained positioning is no coincidence. His administration has gained international visibility thanks to the security policies implemented, such as the Territorial Control Plan and the state of exception. This approach has turned El Salvador into a benchmark for other nations facing violence crises.
The Salvadoran model has become a recurring reference within the public and electoral agenda of countries such as Ecuador, Honduras, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, and Argentina, where various sectors seek to adapt its security and prison control strategies.
The leaders with the lowest ratings
At the opposite end of the ranking, the study reveals the popularity challenges faced by several leaders. The list of the lowest ratings is headed by Delcy Rodríguez (Venezuela) with 26.7%, followed by Bernardo Arévalo (Guatemala) with 29.5% and José Raúl Mulino (Panama) with 31.4%.
Other leaders who are in the group with unfavorable ratings are:
- Javier Milei (Argentina): 35.1%
- Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua): 36.0%
- Yamandú Orsi (Uruguay): 37.5%
This August 2026 outlook highlights the existing gap between governments that maintain their popularity through hardline security policies and those facing significant erosion due to complex economic and institutional contexts.
