Transparency International reports high rates of corruption worldwide News
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Transparency International reports high rates of corruption worldwide

The 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International on Tuesday indicates high rates of corruption worldwide, with the global average at 43 points out of 100. The organization stated that efforts to reduce corruption are floundering, as the global average has remained unchanged for years and more than 120 of the listed countries score below 50 points.

It especially highlighted how alarming rates of corruption play a role in the global climate crisis due to its impact on funds set aside to address climate change and the fact that it undermines the adoption and implementation of bold and progressive strategies. In a separate report released in October 2024, Transparency International zeroed in on the issue of the Conference of Parties (COP) lacking initiatives to prevent corrupt actors from seeking personal gain and guardrails of mitigating the risk of greenwashing during climate summits. The CEO of Transparency International avers that meaningful climate resilience demands tackling corruption “directly and decisively” and that governments must pair anti-corruption measures and efforts against climate change.

The CPI ranked Denmark as the country with the lowest percentage of corruption with a score of 90 and South Sudan with the highest level of corruption with a score of 8. The CPI also highlights that since 2012, 32 countries have gradually reduced the corruption rate while 148 have remained stagnant or increased their levels of corruption. Among countries that have reduced corruption per the 2024 CPI are Finland, Singapore, Luxembourg, Iceland, Kenya, Seychelles, Israel, and South Korea. Conversely, rates of corruption have increased in Botswana, Portugal, Ghana, India, and Tunisia, among others.

Billions of people worldwide experience the effects of corruption, which include hindered development, human rights violations, and deteriorating democracy. Therefore, Francois Valerian, the Chair of Transparency International has called upon nations to prioritize tackling corruption.

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