Corruption Perception Index 2024: India ranks 96 out of 180 countries

India has been ranked 96th amongst 180 countries/territories in the 2024 Corruption Perception Index, released on 11th February 2025. Last year India was ranked 93rd. The Corruption Perception Index ranks the 180 countries/ territories on the basis of perceived  public sector corruption level.

Denmark topped the Index for the seventh consecutive time and was perceived as the least corrupt country followed by Finland and Singapore.

About the Corruption Perception Index

• The Corruption Perception Index is released by Berlin, Germany-based non-governmental organisation, Transparency International.
• The first report was released in 1995 and since then every year the report has been released by Transparency International. 
• It does not show the actual level of corruption in a country, rather it represents the perception of corruption within the public sector of a country.
• It takes into account the view of experts and business people reading their perception of corruption in the public sector (government) of a country.
• The Index uses a scale of Zero to 100. Zero denotes the  highly corrupt while 100 score is least corrupt. No country has ever got a 100 score.

India’s Position and Score in 2024 Index

• In 2024, India's overall score was 38, and was ranked 96th.
• In 2023, India’s overall score was 40 and it was ranked 93rd.
• Thus there has been a decline in both the score and the rank of India.
• It means the perception of corruption in India has increased among experts and business people. 
• In 2024 Pakistan was ranked at 135th position, Sri Lanka at 121, and Bangladesh at 149. China was ranked in the 76th position 

Focus of the 2024 Corruption Perception Index

This year's report focussed on how “corruption hampers the fight against climate change”.

• According to the report, corruption is obstructing effective climate action by hindering the adoption of ambitious policies.
• Most countries that are highly vulnerable to climate change score below 50 on the Index.
• Countries suffering the worst effects of the climate crisis like South Sudan (score of 8), Somalia (9), and Venezuela (10), have the lowest scores in the Index.
• Azerbaijan, which was the host of the 29th United Nations Climate Climate Change Conference 2024,in Baku, scored just 22 in the Index.

Highlights of the 2024 Corruption Perception Index

• Around 85% of the world (6.8 billion) live in countries with a score of less than 50.
• For the seventh year in a row, Denmark topped the index with a score of 90.
• South Sudan with a score of 8 was at the bottom and was the most corrupt country. 
• Somalia was at the 179th position with a score of 9, and Venezuela at the 178th position with a score of 10. 
• Over the past 5 years, 7 countries-Côte d’Ivoire (score 45), the Dominican Republic (score 36), Kosovo (score 44), Kuwait (score 46), the Maldives (score 38), Moldova (score 43), and Zambia (score 39)- have significantly improved their scores in the index.

Top Ten Countries in the world on the 2024 Corruption Perception Index

Following is the list of the top ten least corrupt countries with their score.

1-Denmark, score 90

2-Finland, score 88

3-Singapore, Score 84

4-New Zealand, Score 83

5-Luxembourg, New Zealand, and Switzerland with a score of 81

8-Sweden, Score 80

9-Netherlands, Score 78

10-Australia and Ireland, with a score of 77