The corruption perceptions index ranks 182 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). It finds that corruption is worsening globally, with even established democracies experiencing rising corruption amid a decline in leadership. 

The report website provides each country’s individual score and changes over time, as well as global and regional analysis.

Key recommendations

• Ensure independent, transparent and accessible justice institutions
• Tackle undue influence on political decision making
• Foster civic space and anti-corruption reporting
• Enhance transparency and oversight in public services and public financial management.

Key findings

• The global average score stands at 42 out of 100, its lowest level in more than a decade.
• For the eighth year in a row, Denmark obtains the highest score on the index (89) and is closely followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84).
• Countries with the lowest scores overwhelmingly have severely repressed civil societies and high levels instability like South Sudan, Somalia and Venezuela.
• Australia is ranked at 76 out of 100.
• The vast majority of countries are failing to keep corruption under control: more than two-thirds score under 50.
• A concerning pattern is increasing restrictions by many states on freedoms of expression, association and assembly.