#BOTHSIDES
Superstar
Mapped: Which Countries Are Perceived as the Most Corrupt?
Nordic countries continue to lead in transparency, with Denmark securing the top spot in the 2024 Corruption Perception Index.
www.visualcapitalist.com
Across the globe, striking disparities exist in government corruption levels, from transparent nations with strong institutional safeguards to countries where endemic official misconduct undermines public trust, economic progress, and even enables serious human rights abuses.
This map visualizes the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of 180 countries and territories.
The CPI ranks countries and territories worldwide by their perceived levels of public sector corruption.
The data is for 2024 and comes from Transparency International.
Corruption Perceptions Around the World
Below, we show the 2024 CPI scores of 180 countries and territories.Note that a higher score means less perceived corruption.
Search:
| Country/Territory | Corruption Perception Index 2024 score |
|---|---|
 Denmark | 90 |
 Finland | 88 |
 Singapore | 84 |
 New Zealand | 83 |
 Luxembourg | 81 |
 Norway | 81 |
 Switzerland | 81 |
 Sweden | 80 |
 Netherlands | 78 |
 Australia | 77 |
Nordic countries lead in perceived transparency, with Denmark securing the top spot in the 2024 Corruption Perception Index—its seventh consecutive year—followed closely by Finland.
Nordic countries typically record lower perceived corruption due to strong institutions that promote transparency and accountability, extensive welfare benefits, and well-functioning democracies. These countries also consistently rank among the happiest countries in the world.
The United States and Canada landed at 65 and 75, respectively, reflecting moderate corruption concerns compared to top-ranking peers. Both saw slight dips to their CPI scores from 2023, with the U.S. dropping by 4 points and Canada by 1.
Meanwhile, Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest regional scores, with an average of 33. South Sudan ranked as the most corrupt country in 2024, with a score of 8.
A recent UN Commission report found that South Sudan’s political leaders are fueling violence, obstructing peace, and perpetuating gross human rights violations through impunity and corruption. The report highlights pervasive issues such as systematic sexual violence, forced child recruitment, and numerous incidents of human rights abuses perpetrated by government and military officials.
Corruption remains a persistent issue in fragile states, where weak enforcement and political instability allow it to thrive.
Measuring Corruption
CPI scores are calculated through a combination of at least three data sources drawn from 13 different corruption surveys and assessments, answered by experts and business executives.The data sources used to compile the CPI covers corruption types such as:
- Bribery
- Diversion of public funds
- Officials using their public office for private gain without facing consequences
- Nepotistic appointments in the civil service
- Legal protection for people who report cases of bribery and corruption
- And more
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about government trust around the world, check out this graphic that visualizes the Edelman Trust Index in 2024, which scores countries based on their average percent trust in NGOs, business, and government.
