Denmark is ranked as the least corrupt country in the world, followed by Finland, Singapore, and New Zealand. This ranking comes from the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024 by Transparency International, which measures public sector corruption across 180 countries. The index uses a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
India’s Rank Drops
On the other hand, India’s rank has dropped to 96th in the 2024 CPI, down from 93rd last year. Furthermore, its score decreased slightly from 39 in 2023 to 38 in 2024. Similarly, neighboring countries such as Pakistan (135th), Sri Lanka (121st), and Bangladesh (149th) also had low rankings. In comparison, China ranked 76th.
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Corruption in Major Powers
Moreover, the report reveals that even major powers have experienced a decline. The United States, for example, dropped from 69 points to 65, slipping from 24th to 28th place. In addition, France and Germany saw similar declines in both points and rankings. In contrast, Russia’s corruption worsened significantly, with a score of just 22.
South Sudan and Somalia at the Bottom
At the bottom of the list are South Sudan and Somalia, with corruption levels reaching the highest extremes. They scored 8 and 9, respectively. Following them are Venezuela and Syria, with scores of 10 and 12.
Decline in Global Progress
Despite some countries showing improvement, many others have stagnated or worsened. As a result, the report highlights that corruption remains a major global issue, affecting numerous nations and hindering their efforts for positive change.
Corruption and Climate Change
Furthermore, corruption is severely impacting efforts to tackle climate change. A lack of transparency and undue influence from the private sector increases the risk of climate funds being misused. Consequently, this undermines progress in reducing emissions and adapting to the unavoidable effects of global heating.
The Need for Action
In addition, Transparency International urges countries to improve accountability in climate action and ensure funds are protected from corruption. Countries with high CPI scores have the resources to combat corruption, yet often prioritize the interests of fossil fuel companies instead. Therefore, the report emphasizes the need for stronger, global efforts to fight corruption, which is a key cause of declining democracy and instability.
Overall, corruption continues to undermine global development, democracy, and human rights. Transparency International stresses that fighting corruption must be a long-term priority for every country. “This is crucial to pushing back against authoritarianism and securing a peaceful, free, and sustainable world,” the report concludes.
