According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024, Denmark has once again become the world's least corrupt nation, followed by Finland, Singapore, and New Zealand. Compiled by Transparency International, the index rates public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories and thereby provides a vital perspective on world governance and accountability.

India drops three spots

Sitting three notches lower than her position of 93rd in 2023, India has descended to the 96th rank in the 2024 standings. From 40 in 2022, the country's total score has also dropped to 38 this year, continuing a downward slope from 39 in 2023.

Pakistan was 135th among the neighbors of India; Sri Lanka was 121. China was 76; Bangladesh ranked even poorer at 149. The study showed that in many areas corruption is still a serious concern affecting government and business development.

Decline in Western democracies

In 2024, several large world powers—among them the United States and France—have experienced a decline in ranking. With its score dropping from 69 to 65, the US dropped from 24th to 28th. France fell four points and came in 25th; Germany four ranks down to 15th. Formerly ahead, Canada is now level with Germany and drops three spots and one point in the standings.

With Transparency International crediting this fall to the judiciary's lack of swift action against corruption, Mexico saw a five-point drop to a score of 26. Sinking further, Russia fell four points to 22. The report connected Moscow's deteriorating corruption to increasing autocratic control after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Although Ukraine's total score has dropped one point to 35, the country has improved in enforcing high-level corruption cases and increasing judicial independence.

World's most corrupt countries according to CPI 2024 report

With only eight points South Sudan came last on the index, surpassing Somalia, which fell to nine. Syrians scored 12 points, whereas Venezuelans came behind with 10 points. The results show that in many countries corruption still presents a continuous difficulty that frequently worsens political instability and financial downturn.

[Image source - Jagran Josh]

Trends in worldwide corruption

According to Transparency International, global corruption levels are still very bad. Although 32 countries have really raised their rankings since 2012, 148 have either not moved at all or gotten worse. As corruption keeps harming democratic ideals, human rights, and financial security globally, the report urged quick actions to restrain it.

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