Transparency Intl: Sudan, Somalia Topped the Most Corrupt; Denmark Led Corruption-Free Countries

March 10, 2025 | 10:59 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Corruption has become a rampant crime worldwide, as reported on Transparency.org, the agency that measures public sector Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in 180 countries. The agency measures the CPI with a score of 0 as very corrupt, up to very clean with a score of 100. The global average index results at 43.

The increasing corruption in the world has led to social injustice. Based on Transparency International's ratings, the following are the world's most corrupt and corruption-free countries.

1. South Sudan

South Sudan was named the most corrupt country in 2024 by Transparency International. South Sudan scored 8 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). This figure not only portrays a bad culture of corruption in South Sudan, but also indicates an increasingly worrying regression.

The CPI score obtained by South Sudan in 2024 is the worst record in the last 10 years. Previously in 2015, South Sudan ranked in the top five with a score of 15. However, South Sudan's CPI fluctuated and stagnated at 13 in the following years. With this record, South Sudan has never been out of the bottom three nominations in the last nine years, and has even occupied the position with the lowest CPI several times.

2. Somalia

Somalia ranks second as the most corrupt country in the world with a one-point difference from South Sudan. Although currently Somalia is above South Sudan's score, Somalia has sometimes been at the bottom, such as in 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, and 2017. Somalia also reached its lowest score of 8 for four consecutive years from 2012 to 2015. For ten years, Somalia has not shown significant progress; instead, it has remained stagnant at a score of 13 or a 5-point increase from the corruption crisis that hit in 2012-2015.

3. Venezuela

As reported by Trading Economics, Venezuela ranks third lowest in CPI scores in 2024. Venezuela got a score of 10 out of 100. This score is Venezuela's worst record in the last 10 years. Previously, Venezuela recorded a score of 18 in several years before eventually declining from 2020-2023 until reaching its peak positioning in 2023, even with a high score of 13 compared to now, which is 10. Venezuela also once recorded its best record with a value of 20 out of 100 in 2012.

In addition to the high corruption index, several countries have recorded the highest CPI records. This means that these countries have become safe havens from corruption. The following are the countries with the highest CPIs as reported by transparency.org.

1. Denmark

Denmark is the country with the lowest corruption since 2012. Denmark recorded the lowest score of 87 out of 100 for the past 17 years. Although the score has decreased, in 2021 Denmark's score increased again to 90, a score it previously achieved in 2014.

2. Finland

Finland ranks second as the country with the lowest CPI score. In 2024, Finland scored 88 out of 100. Finland once reached a CPI of 90 in 2015. Despite fluctuations afterward, Finland's position remains within the top three scores.

3. New Zealand and Singapore

In 2024, Singapore ranks third in achieving the highest CPI, and New Zealand ranks fourth with only a one-point difference, at 84 and 83 respectively. The interesting thing about Singapore is that 2024 marks its first year in the top three positions, even though the score is not the highest, as countries worldwide experienced a decline in scores. Singapore also consistently maintains its CPI value, ranging from 83, 84, and 85.

New Zealand has sometimes been at second and third positions below Denmark and Finland in achieving CPI scores. In 2020, New Zealand even shared the top position with Denmark with a CPI score of 88. New Zealand also achieved the highest CPI score, 95 out of 100, which is currently difficult for other countries to match. This achievement placed New Zealand at the top of the non-corrupt countries in 2011. Unfortunately, New Zealand has declined in the past two years, obtaining a CPI score of 85 in 2023 and 83 in 2024.

In 2024, Transparency International found that the average global corruption index score is 43. Meanwhile, over two-thirds of countries still score below 50. Corrupt countries have experienced various human rights violations and social problems.

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