This is World’s Most Corrupt Country; Where is India Compared to China, Pakistan? Least Corrupt Nation is...

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) measures corruption based on expert and business perceptions, scoring nations between Zero (highly corrupt) and 100 (very clean). The ranking goes from 1 to 180 (1 being the least corrupt and 180 being the most corrupt).

Let's see where does India stand and how do Pakistan, China, and Sri Lanka compare in the 2024 CPI rankings.

South Sudan and Somalia have once again ranked as the world's most corrupt countries, according to the CPI 2024 index released by Transparency International. South Sudan scored 8, while Somalia followed closely with 9, placing them at the bottom of the global rankings. 

Venezuela and Syria also featured among the most corrupt nations, scoring 10 and 12, respectively. The rankings highlight the deep-rooted corruption and governance failures in these countries, where weak institutions, political instability, and lack of transparency continue to fuel corruption. 

At the top of the global corruption index, Denmark emerged as the cleanest country, maintaining its reputation for strong governance. It was followed by Finland and Singapore, known for their strict anti-corruption policies and efficient public sectors. 

India has slipped in the global corruption rankings, standing at 96 out of 180 countries in the CPI 2024 released by Transparency International on Tuesday. The country’s score dropped to 38, down from 39 in 2023 and 40 in 2022, indicating a declining perception of public sector integrity. 

Among India's South Asian neighbours, Pakistan ranked 135, reflecting severe corruption issues, while Sri Lanka stood at 121. Bangladesh ranked even lower at 149, highlighting its deep-rooted governance challenges. Meanwhile, China ranked 76, securing a better position than India (96), indicating relatively stronger anti-corruption measures.

India, at 96, ranked higher than Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh but lagged behind China, suggesting persistent challenges in governance and transparency.

The 2024 CPI highlighted corruption as a major global issue affecting governance and economic growth. However, it also pointed out positive changes, with 32 countries significantly improving since 2012. Despite this, 148 nations showed no progress or worsened, revealing deep-rooted problems in tackling corruption. 

The report warned that many wealthy countries with high CPI scores contribute to corruption globally. While they have the resources to fight corruption, some instead support fossil-fuel industries and act as hubs for illicit financial transactions. "Some of these countries are also home to financial hubs that attract illicit funds stemming from corruption, environmental destruction and other crime," it noted. 

A key finding of the report was the link between corruption and climate change. "Huge numbers of people around the world suffer severe consequences of global heating, as funds intended to help countries cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect vulnerable populations are stolen or misused," the report stated. Corruption weakens climate action by obstructing policies and allowing environmental damage to continue unchecked.