Global Corruption Index shows worst scores in over a decade across major states
A report released on 11 February by Transparency International revealed worsening corruption levels in numerous countries, including global powers such as the United States and France, alongside authoritarian states like Russia and Venezuela.
The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index found that 47 out of 180 nations recorded their lowest scores since the ranking methodology was updated in 2012.
The watchdog warned that corruption remains dangerously high worldwide, with anti-corruption efforts losing steam.
The index evaluates public sector corruption utilizing 13 data sources, including information from the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
Scored from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), the global average remained stagnant at 43, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50.
Denmark retained its top position with 90 points, followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84). New Zealand fell to fourth after dropping to 83 points. At the bottom, South Sudan ranked lowest with just eight points, followed by Somalia (9), Venezuela (10), and Syria (12).
The United States saw a notable decline from 69 to 65 points, slipping from 24th to 28th place. Transparency International raised concerns over judicial integrity, especially the U.S. Supreme Court's ethics code, which lacks strong enforcement mechanisms.
France dropped four points to 67, ranking 25th, while Germany fell to 75 points, sharing 15th place with Canada. Mexico dropped five points to 26 due to judicial inaction on major corruption cases, despite promises by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Slovakia also saw a five-point decline to 49 under Prime Minister Robert Fico's leadership, as key anti-corruption measures were weakened.
Russia continued its slide, dropping to 22 points due to increasing authoritarianism following its invasion of Ukraine. However, Ukraine, despite losing a point to 35, was recognized for progress in judicial independence and addressing high-level corruption.
The Middle East and North Africa remained plagued by corruption as leaders suppressed dissent while reaping financial gains. Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest regional average at 33, while the Asia-Pacific region showed limited progress on anti-corruption commitments.
