Public sector corruption remains alarmingly high worldwide, with many countries experiencing their worst rankings in over a decade, according to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released on Tuesday by Transparency International.
The 2024 index reveals that 47 out of 180 surveyed countries recorded their lowest scores since the organization began using its current ranking methodology in 2012. The report highlights a global failure in efforts to combat corruption, raising concerns about its impact on governance and pressing issues like climate change.
Key Findings: Corruption on the Rise
The CPI scores countries on a 0 to 100 scale, where 0 represents highly corrupt and 100 very clean. Despite ongoing anti-corruption efforts, the global average remained stagnant at 43, with more than two-thirds of nations scoring below 50 a troubling indicator of widespread corruption.
Top and Bottom Performers
Denmark remains the least corrupt country with a score of 90, followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84).
South Sudan is now the most corrupt nation, scoring just 8 points, replacing Somalia (9 points) at the bottom of the index.
Venezuela (10 points) and Syria (12 points) follow as some of the worst-ranked nations.
Declining Scores in Major Nations
Several global powers and Western nations saw significant drops in their rankings, raising alarms about governance and accountability:
United States: Dropped from 69 to 65 points, falling from 24th to 28th place. Transparency International attributed this to concerns over judicial integrity, noting that while the U.S. Supreme Court adopted its first code of ethics in 2023, questions remain about its enforcement.
France: Dropped four points to 67, falling five places to 25th, amid rising concerns over transparency.
Germany: Lost three points, scoring 75, and fell six places to 15th, now tied with Canada, which also declined.
Mexico: Dropped five points to 26, as its judiciary failed to prosecute major corruption cases despite promises from former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
In Eastern Europe, Slovakia fell five points to 49, as the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico weakened anti-corruption safeguards and avoided public consultations.
In Russia, corruption deepened as the country lost four more points, scoring 22. Transparency International linked this to Moscow’s war in Ukraine, stating that authoritarianism has become even more entrenched since the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Impact on Climate and Governance
The report also warns that corruption threatens global efforts to combat climate change, as a lack of transparency could lead to the misuse of climate-related funds. Additionally, private sector influence is preventing the adoption of ambitious environmental policies.
Despite overall stagnation, the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa remain the most corruption-affected regions, with Sub-Saharan Africa scoring the lowest regional average of 33. However, Transparency International noted that some opportunities for reform are emerging, especially following political shifts in Syria.
Looking Ahead
While Ukraine’s score dipped slightly to 35, the report acknowledges that the country continues to improve its judicial independence and high-level corruption prosecutions. This contrasts with many other nations where corruption is worsening amid political instability.
With corruption levels still alarmingly high, the fight for transparency and accountability remains an uphill battle. Transparency International is calling for stronger legal frameworks, greater enforcement of anti-corruption measures, and more transparent governance worldwide.
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