Corruption Perceptions Index Score 2018

Corruption Perceptions Index Score ranks countries on perceived corruption. Higher scores indicate less corruption.

179 data pointsโ€ขโ€ขGlobal Coverageโ€ขCorruption Perceptions Index | Our World in Dataโ€ข

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
Actions
1
Denmark flag
Denmark
88 index
2
New Zealand flag
New Zealand
87 index
3
Finland flag
Finland
85 index
4
Singapore flag
Singapore
85 index
5
Sweden flag
Sweden
85 index
6
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
85 index
7
Norway flag
Norway
84 index
8
Netherlands flag
Netherlands
82 index
9
Canada flag
Canada
81 index
10
Luxembourg flag
Luxembourg
81 index
11
Germany flag
Germany
80 index
12
United Kingdom flag
United Kingdom
80 index
13
Australia flag
Australia
77 index
14
Austria flag
Austria
76 index
15
China, Hong Kong SAR flag
China, Hong Kong SAR
76 index
16
Iceland flag
Iceland
76 index
17
Belgium flag
Belgium
75 index
18
Estonia flag
Estonia
73 index
19
Ireland flag
Ireland
73 index
20
Japan flag
Japan
73 index
21
France flag
France
72 index
22
United States flag
United States
71 index
23
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
70 index
24
Uruguay flag
Uruguay
70 index
25
Barbados flag
Barbados
68 index
26
Bhutan flag
Bhutan
68 index
27
Chile flag
Chile
67 index
28
Seychelles flag
Seychelles
66 index
29
Bahamas flag
Bahamas
65 index
30
Portugal flag
Portugal
64 index
31
Brunei Darussalam flag
Brunei Darussalam
63 index
32
Taiwan flag
Taiwan
63 index
33
Qatar flag
Qatar
62 index
34
Botswana flag
Botswana
61 index
35
Israel flag
Israel
61 index
36
Poland flag
Poland
60 index
37
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
60 index
38
Cyprus flag
Cyprus
59 index
39
Czech Republic flag
Czech Republic
59 index
40
Lithuania flag
Lithuania
59 index
41
Georgia flag
Georgia
58 index
42
Latvia flag
Latvia
58 index
43
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
58 index
44
Spain flag
Spain
58 index
45
Cabo Verde flag
Cabo Verde
57 index
46
Dominica flag
Dominica
57 index
47
South Korea flag
South Korea
57 index
48
Costa Rica flag
Costa Rica
56 index
49
Rwanda flag
Rwanda
56 index
50
Saint Lucia flag
Saint Lucia
55 index
51
Malta flag
Malta
54 index
52
Namibia flag
Namibia
53 index
53
Grenada flag
Grenada
52 index
54
Italy flag
Italy
52 index
55
Oman flag
Oman
52 index
56
Mauritius flag
Mauritius
51 index
57
Slovakia flag
Slovakia
50 index
58
Jordan flag
Jordan
49 index
59
Saudi Arabia flag
Saudi Arabia
49 index
60
Croatia flag
Croatia
48 index
61
Cuba flag
Cuba
47 index
62
Malaysia flag
Malaysia
47 index
63
Romania flag
Romania
47 index
64
Hungary flag
Hungary
46 index
65
Sao Tome and Principe flag
Sao Tome and Principe
46 index
66
Vanuatu flag
Vanuatu
46 index
67
Greece flag
Greece
45 index
68
Montenegro flag
Montenegro
45 index
69
Senegal flag
Senegal
45 index
70
Belarus flag
Belarus
44 index
71
Jamaica flag
Jamaica
44 index
72
Solomon Islands flag
Solomon Islands
44 index
73
Morocco flag
Morocco
43 index
74
South Africa flag
South Africa
43 index
75
Suriname flag
Suriname
43 index
76
Tunisia flag
Tunisia
43 index
77
Bulgaria flag
Bulgaria
42 index
78
Burkina Faso flag
Burkina Faso
41 index
79
Ghana flag
Ghana
41 index
80
India flag
India
41 index
81
Kuwait flag
Kuwait
41 index
82
Lesotho flag
Lesotho
41 index
83
Trinidad and Tobago flag
Trinidad and Tobago
41 index
84
Turkey flag
Turkey
41 index
85
Argentina flag
Argentina
40 index
86
Benin flag
Benin
40 index
87
China flag
China
39 index
88
Serbia flag
Serbia
39 index
89
Bosnia and Herzegovina flag
Bosnia and Herzegovina
38 index
90
Eswatini flag
Eswatini
38 index
91
Indonesia flag
Indonesia
38 index
92
Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka
38 index
93
Gambia flag
Gambia
37 index
94
Guyana flag
Guyana
37 index
95
Mongolia flag
Mongolia
37 index
96
North Macedonia flag
North Macedonia
37 index
97
Panama flag
Panama
37 index
98
Albania flag
Albania
36 index
99
Bahrain flag
Bahrain
36 index
100
Colombia flag
Colombia
36 index
101
Philippines flag
Philippines
36 index
102
Tanzania flag
Tanzania
36 index
103
Thailand flag
Thailand
36 index
104
Armenia flag
Armenia
35 index
105
Algeria flag
Algeria
35 index
106
Brazil flag
Brazil
35 index
107
Cรดte d'Ivoire flag
Cรดte d'Ivoire
35 index
108
Timor-Leste flag
Timor-Leste
35 index
109
Egypt flag
Egypt
35 index
110
El Salvador flag
El Salvador
35 index
111
Peru flag
Peru
35 index
112
Zambia flag
Zambia
35 index
113
Ecuador flag
Ecuador
34 index
114
Ethiopia flag
Ethiopia
34 index
115
Niger flag
Niger
34 index
116
Republic of Moldova flag
Republic of Moldova
33 index
117
Pakistan flag
Pakistan
33 index
118
Vietnam flag
Vietnam
33 index
119
Liberia flag
Liberia
32 index
120
Malawi flag
Malawi
32 index
121
Mali flag
Mali
32 index
122
Ukraine flag
Ukraine
32 index
123
Djibouti flag
Djibouti
31 index
124
Gabon flag
Gabon
31 index
125
Kazakhstan flag
Kazakhstan
31 index
126
Maldives flag
Maldives
31 index
127
Nepal flag
Nepal
31 index
128
Dominican Republic flag
Dominican Republic
30 index
129
Sierra Leone flag
Sierra Leone
30 index
130
Togo flag
Togo
30 index
131
Bolivia flag
Bolivia
29 index
132
Honduras flag
Honduras
29 index
133
Kyrgyzstan flag
Kyrgyzstan
29 index
134
Laos flag
Laos
29 index
135
Myanmar flag
Myanmar
29 index
136
Paraguay flag
Paraguay
29 index
137
Guinea flag
Guinea
28 index
138
Iran flag
Iran
28 index
139
Lebanon flag
Lebanon
28 index
140
Mexico flag
Mexico
28 index
141
Papua New Guinea flag
Papua New Guinea
28 index
142
Russia flag
Russia
28 index
143
Comoros flag
Comoros
27 index
144
Guatemala flag
Guatemala
27 index
145
Kenya flag
Kenya
27 index
146
Mauritania flag
Mauritania
27 index
147
Nigeria flag
Nigeria
27 index
148
Bangladesh flag
Bangladesh
26 index
149
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
26 index
150
Uganda flag
Uganda
26 index
151
Azerbaijan flag
Azerbaijan
25 index
152
Cameroon flag
Cameroon
25 index
153
Madagascar flag
Madagascar
25 index
154
Nicaragua flag
Nicaragua
25 index
155
Tajikistan flag
Tajikistan
25 index
156
Eritrea flag
Eritrea
24 index
157
Mozambique flag
Mozambique
23 index
158
Uzbekistan flag
Uzbekistan
23 index
159
Zimbabwe flag
Zimbabwe
22 index
160
Cambodia flag
Cambodia
20 index
161
Congo, Democratic Republic of the flag
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
20 index
162
Haiti flag
Haiti
20 index
163
Turkmenistan flag
Turkmenistan
20 index
164
Angola flag
Angola
19 index
165
Chad flag
Chad
19 index
166
Congo flag
Congo
19 index
167
Iraq flag
Iraq
18 index
168
Venezuela flag
Venezuela
18 index
169
Burundi flag
Burundi
17 index
170
Libya flag
Libya
17 index
171
Afghanistan flag
Afghanistan
16 index
172
Equatorial Guinea flag
Equatorial Guinea
16 index
173
Guinea-Bissau flag
Guinea-Bissau
16 index
174
Sudan flag
Sudan
16 index
175
North Korea flag
North Korea
14 index
176
Yemen flag
Yemen
14 index
177
South Sudan flag
South Sudan
13 index
178
Syrian Arab Republic flag
Syrian Arab Republic
13 index
179
Somalia flag
Somalia
10 index

โ†‘Top 10 Countries

  1. #1Denmark flagDenmark
  2. #2New Zealand flagNew Zealand
  3. #3Finland flagFinland
  4. #4Singapore flagSingapore
  5. #5Sweden flagSweden
  6. #6Switzerland flagSwitzerland
  7. #7Norway flagNorway
  8. #8Netherlands flagNetherlands
  9. #9Canada flagCanada
  10. #10Luxembourg flagLuxembourg

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

โ†“Bottom 10 Countries

  1. #179Somalia flagSomalia
  2. #178Syrian Arab Republic flagSyrian Arab Republic
  3. #177South Sudan flagSouth Sudan
  4. #176Yemen flagYemen
  5. #175North Korea flagNorth Korea
  6. #174Sudan flagSudan
  7. #173Guinea-Bissau flagGuinea-Bissau
  8. #172Equatorial Guinea flagEquatorial Guinea
  9. #171Afghanistan flagAfghanistan
  10. #170Libya flagLibya

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Analysis & Context

The Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018 saw Denmark leading the world with a score of 88, while the global range spanned from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 88. The global average score was 43.15, providing a benchmark for evaluating individual country performances.

Top Performers and Their Success Factors

The countries with the highest Corruption Perceptions Index Scores in 2018 include Denmark (88), New Zealand (87), and Switzerland (85). These nations share common attributes such as strong institutions, transparent governance, and robust legal frameworks. Denmark, for instance, is known for its effective public sector and low levels of bureaucratic corruption, which contribute to its top ranking. Similarly, New Zealand has consistently ranked high due to its strict anti-corruption laws and public access to governmental information.

Other countries like Sweden, Finland, and Singapore, each with a score of 85, also exemplify how systemic checks and balances, along with a culture of accountability, can diminish corruption. Singapore, in particular, employs a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, which has been pivotal in its high ranking.

Challenges Faced by the Lowest Scorers

At the opposite end of the spectrum, countries such as Somalia (10), South Sudan (13), and the Syrian Arab Republic (13) face significant challenges. These nations are often plagued by political instability, ongoing conflict, and weak institutions, which exacerbate corruption levels. In Somalia, the absence of a stable government has led to pervasive corruption that stifles development and governance. Similarly, South Sudan struggles with corruption due to prolonged civil unrest and a lack of transparent governance structures.

In countries like North Korea (14) and Yemen (14), closed political systems and limited freedom of expression further entrench corrupt practices, making reform efforts particularly challenging.

Year-over-Year Trends and Notable Changes

The year-over-year changes in the Corruption Perceptions Index Score reveal significant shifts, with Oman experiencing the largest increase of 8.00 points, an 18.2% improvement. This change can be attributed to enhanced anti-corruption measures and economic reforms aimed at improving transparency. The Gambia, with a 7.00 point rise, has also made notable progress, reflecting its efforts to strengthen democratic governance and reduce corruption following a change in political leadership.

Conversely, Azerbaijan saw the most substantial decline, dropping by 6.00 points, or -19.4%. This decrease may be linked to ongoing challenges in governance and transparency, despite efforts to improve its international reputation. The United States also experienced a notable decline of 4.00 points, highlighting concerns about political integrity and the influence of money in politics.

Global Insights and Implications

The 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index underscores the varied landscape of corruption across the globe. The stark differences between the top and bottom performers illustrate the impact of governance quality and institutional strength on corruption levels. Countries with high scores typically benefit from robust legal systems and transparent bureaucracies, which are critical in fostering economic growth and social stability.

The data also suggests that political and economic reforms can lead to significant improvements, as seen in Oman and The Gambia. However, for countries at the lower end of the index, like Somalia and South Sudan, achieving similar progress requires addressing deep-rooted structural issues, including conflict resolution and building institutional capacity.

Overall, the Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018 highlights the ongoing global challenges and successes in combating corruption, serving as a critical tool for policymakers and organizations aiming to promote transparency and accountability worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018

Which country had the highest Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018?

Denmark had the highest Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018 with a score of 88.

What was the lowest Corruption Perceptions Index Score recorded in 2018?

The lowest Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018 was 10, recorded by Somalia.

What was the average Corruption Perceptions Index Score across all countries in 2018?

The average Corruption Perceptions Index Score across all countries in 2018 was 43.15.

What was the median Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018?

The median Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018 was 38.

Which countries were in the top 10 for the Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018?

The top 10 countries in 2018 were Denmark, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Singapore, Norway, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Canada.

How many countries were included in the Corruption Perceptions Index Score dataset for 2018?

The dataset for the Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018 included 179 countries.

Insights by country

1

France

In 2018, France achieved a Corruption Perceptions Index Score of 72 index, ranking #21 out of 179 countries. This score is above the European average, reflecting a relatively low level of perceived corruption compared to many of its neighbors. Key factors contributing to this perception include France's robust legal framework, active civil society, and ongoing government reforms aimed at increasing transparency and accountability.

2

Namibia

In 2018, Namibia achieved a Corruption Perceptions Index Score of 53 index, ranking #52 out of 179 countries. This score is relatively strong compared to the regional average for Sub-Saharan Africa, where many countries struggle with higher levels of corruption. Factors contributing to Namibia's performance include its relatively stable political environment and ongoing efforts to promote transparency and accountability in governance.

3

Maldives

In 2018, the Maldives had a Corruption Perceptions Index Score of 31 index, ranking #126 out of 179 countries. This score is notably lower than the global average, indicating significant challenges in governance and transparency. Factors contributing to this situation include political instability, a history of authoritarian rule, and allegations of corruption within the government and judiciary, which undermine public trust and accountability.

4

Angola

In 2018, Angola had a Corruption Perceptions Index Score of 19 index, ranking #164 out of 179 countries. This score places Angola among the lowest globally, reflecting significant challenges in governance compared to regional peers like Namibia, which scored considerably higher. The pervasive corruption in Angola can be attributed to a combination of factors, including a history of prolonged civil conflict, a lack of transparency in the management of oil revenues, and weak institutional frameworks.

5

Sweden

In 2018, Sweden achieved a Corruption Perceptions Index Score of 85 index, ranking #5 out of 179 countries. This score is significantly higher than the global average, reflecting Sweden's strong governance and low levels of corruption compared to many nations. Key drivers of this high score include a robust legal framework, transparency in public administration, and active civil society engagement that promotes accountability.

6

Niger

Niger had a Corruption Perceptions Index Score of 34 index in 2018, ranking #115 out of 179 countries. This score is significantly lower than the global average, indicating widespread corruption challenges within the nation. Key drivers of Niger's corruption issues include weak governance structures, limited institutional capacity, and ongoing political instability, which hinder effective law enforcement and accountability measures.

7

Albania

In 2018, Albania had a Corruption Perceptions Index Score of 36 index, ranking #98 out of 179 countries. This score is significantly lower than the regional average for Southeast Europe, indicating persistent challenges in governance and transparency. Factors contributing to this score include a history of political instability, weak institutional frameworks, and ongoing issues with organized crime, which hinder effective anti-corruption efforts.

8

Philippines

The Philippines ranked #101 with a 36 index on the Corruption Perceptions Index Score in 2018. This score is notably lower than the regional average for Southeast Asia, indicating significant challenges in governance and transparency compared to neighboring countries like Malaysia, which scored higher.

Key drivers of this score include issues such as political instability, widespread patronage networks, and inadequate enforcement of anti-corruption laws, which hinder efforts to improve public trust and institutional integrity.

9

Mongolia

Mongolia had a Corruption Perceptions Index Score of 37 index in 2018, ranking #95 out of 179 countries. This score reflects challenges in governance, particularly when compared to the regional average in East Asia, where many countries score higher. Key drivers of this perception include issues related to political instability and the influence of mining revenues, which have complicated regulatory frameworks and transparency efforts.

10

Turkmenistan

In 2018, Turkmenistan had a Corruption Perceptions Index Score of 20 index, ranking #163 out of 179 countries. This score places Turkmenistan among the lowest globally, reflecting significant challenges in governance compared to regional neighbors, many of which score higher. The pervasive corruption in the country is driven by a lack of political pluralism and transparency, compounded by state control over key economic sectors, limiting accountability and fostering an environment where corrupt practices thrive.

Data Source

Corruption Perceptions Index | Our World in Data

The Corruption Perceptions Index, compiled by Transparency International and featured on Our World in Data, measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in various countries. It provides country-level statistics that reflect the perceptions of businesspeople and experts regarding corruption, using a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

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Historical Data by Year

Explore Corruption Perceptions Index Score data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.

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