Corruption Perceptions Index 2024: A Global Overview of Corruption Trends
Denmark is once again ranked as the least corrupt nation in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, while India has fallen to 96th place. The report highlights ongoing corruption challenges globally, particularly in South Asia and Western nations. Urgent action is essential to address corruption and protect initiatives aimed at climate change and human rights.
The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International reveals that Denmark retains its status as the least corrupt nation globally for the second consecutive year, followed by Finland, Singapore, and New Zealand. In contrast, India experienced a decline in its ranking, falling to the 96th position from 93rd, obtaining a score of 38 out of 100, highlighting ongoing challenges in addressing corruption within its public sector.
The CPI evaluates 180 countries based on perceived public sector corruption as perceived by experts and business professionals. The scoring ranges from zero, indicating high corruption, to 100, indicating cleanliness. While Denmark achieved an impressive score of 90, India’s performance reflects significant ongoing issues with corruption in governance.
Among India’s South Asian neighbors, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and China also struggle with low rankings. Pakistan is positioned at 135th, Sri Lanka at 121st, Bangladesh at 149th, and China slightly better at 76th. The report recognizes persistent corruption challenges within the region and indicates limited advancements toward resolution.
The global average corruption score remains stagnant at 43, with over two-thirds of nations scoring below 50. Despite some countries, including Ukraine, showing improvement, Transparency International warns that global corruption remains alarmingly high, jeopardizing efforts to address significant issues such as climate change and human rights violations.
Furthermore, the 2024 CPI report highlights a decline in the corruption scores of several Western nations. The United States fell from 69 points to 65, dropping from 24th to 28th place. France and Germany also experienced declines, with France losing four points and six positions, while Germany fell three points and six positions to 15th, tied with Canada.
The report identifies a worsening trend in authoritarian regimes, particularly Russia, which recorded a decrease of four points to 22, largely due to its actions concerning Ukraine. However, Ukraine has shown some positive developments in judicial independence and high-level corruption prosecutions despite a slight score reduction to 35.
At the lowest end of the index, South Sudan and Somalia maintained their positions, with scores of 8 and 9, respectively. Venezuela and Syria are also notable for their low scores of 10 and 12. Transparency International remarks that corruption impedes economic growth and represents a significant threat to democracy, stability, and human rights, urging immediate measures to counter corruption impacts.
The 2024 CPI emphasizes the detrimental influence of corruption on climate change initiatives. Mismanagement of climate funds and undue influence from the private sector may obstruct policies designed to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change effects. The report underscores the necessity of safeguarding these efforts to ensure their effectiveness and deliver crucial support to vulnerable populations globally.
The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index reveals critical insights into global corruption trends, highlighting Denmark as the least corrupt nation while India ranks lower than in previous years. The data illustrates widespread corruption challenges, particularly in South Asia and several Western nations, necessitating urgent reforms. Furthermore, it emphasizes the substantial risk corruption poses to essential global initiatives like climate change mitigation.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
