Denmark has once again emerged as the least corrupt country in the world, securing the top position in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International. It was followed closely by Finland, Singapore, and New Zealand, which also ranked among the least corrupt nations.
Meanwhile, India has slipped to the 96th position, dropping from 93rd place last year. The country scored 38 out of 100 on the CPI scale, which measures perceived levels of corruption in the public sector based on expert assessments and business surveys. The index ranks 180 countries and territories, with scores ranging from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
The report highlighted that India continues to face challenges in tackling corruption, particularly in governance, law enforcement, and the misuse of public funds. India’s decline reflects a broader issue across South Asia, where several neighboring countries also performed poorly.
- Pakistan ranked 135th
- Sri Lanka placed 121st
- Bangladesh ranked 149th
- China performed slightly better at 76th
Transparency International’s findings suggest that corruption remains deeply rooted in the region, with many governments failing to take effective action. The global average score remains stagnant at 43, indicating that corruption continues to be a serious concern worldwide. Over two-thirds of the countries scored below 50, emphasizing the urgent need for anti-corruption reforms.
Several Western countries also saw a decline in their rankings. The United States dropped from 69 points to 65, falling from 24th to 28th place. France and Germany also witnessed a decline, raising concerns about weakening anti-corruption measures in developed economies.
The report also pointed to a significant drop in Russia’s score, which fell by four points to 22, largely attributed to its invasion of Ukraine. However, Ukraine itself showed some progress in judicial independence and high-level corruption prosecutions, despite its overall score slipping by one point to 35.
At the bottom of the index, South Sudan and Somalia remained the most corrupt nations, with scores of 8 and 9, respectively. Venezuela and Syria also ranked among the worst performers, with scores of 10 and 12.
The 2024 CPI report further highlighted the growing impact of corruption on climate action, warning that misuse of climate funds and private sector influence could hinder efforts to combat climate change. It emphasized that ensuring transparent governance is crucial to tackling global issues like environmental protection and economic stability.