The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index reveals Denmark as the least corrupt country, with India dropping to 96th place. The report indicates stagnating global corruption levels, with significant concern over high scores in several Western nations. Transparency International emphasizes the urgent need for reforms to address corruption’s impact on democracy and global initiatives, particularly in climate change mitigation.
In the recently published 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by Transparency International, Denmark has been recognized as the world’s least corrupt nation for the second consecutive year, with an impressive score of 90. Following Denmark are Finland and Singapore, which also rank highly on the list. In contrast, India has experienced a decline, falling to 96th place with a score of 38 out of 100, indicating persistent challenges in tackling public sector corruption.
The CPI evaluates 180 countries based on perceived public sector corruption, with scores ranging from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). India’s score of 38 reflects ongoing difficulties in combating corruption, especially when compared to its regional neighbors. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and China also show low rankings, reinforcing the notion that corruption is a significant issue within South Asia.
The report reveals that the global average corruption score has stagnated at 43, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50. Although some nations, like Ukraine, have made progress, Transparency International cautions that global corruption levels remain critically high and threaten to undermine initiatives addressing pressing global challenges, including climate change and human rights violations.
Moreover, the report highlights a worrisome trend regarding corruption scores in Western nations. The United States has dropped from 69 to 65 points, falling to 28th place. Similar declines were observed in France and Germany, raising concerns about corruption management in established democracies. In contrast, Ukraine has seen progress in judicial independence and corruption prosecutions, even as its overall score slightly decreased.
At the lower end of the scale, South Sudan and Somalia consistently rank as the most corrupt nations, receiving scores of 8 and 9, respectively. Venezuela and Syria also feature among the countries with the highest levels of corruption. Transparency International asserts that corruption poses a serious threat to democracy, stability, and human rights, necessitating immediate action to combat the issue.
The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index underscores the persistent issues of corruption globally, emphasizing the challenges faced by nations such as India and several Western countries. While Denmark leads the rankings, many nations, especially in South Asia, continue to struggle with corruption. The report stresses the need for urgent reforms to combat corruption effectively, particularly in light of its detrimental effects on democracy and efforts to address climate change.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
