In the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, Denmark is ranked as the least corrupt nation, while India has declined to the 96th position. The report highlights serious corruption issues worldwide, particularly in South Asia and among Western nations, emphasizing the need for immediate action against corruption to protect democracy and address global challenges like climate change.
Denmark has maintained its position as the least corrupt nation globally for the second consecutive year in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International. It is closely followed by Finland, Singapore, and New Zealand. Conversely, India has fallen in rankings, dropping from 93rd to 96th place, with a score of 38 out of 100, highlighting ongoing challenges in addressing public sector corruption.
The CPI evaluates 180 countries based on perceived public sector corruption, with scores ranging from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Denmark achieved a near-perfect score of 90, while India’s score of 38 illustrates the persistent corruption issues faced by the country. This year’s report emphasizes that significant corruption challenges remain in South Asia, with Pakistan (135th), Sri Lanka (121st), Bangladesh (149th), and China (76th) all registering low rankings.
Globally, the average corruption score has stagnated at 43, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50. Transparency International notes that progress in combating corruption is insufficient, specifically mentioning that it hampers efforts to tackle global issues such as climate change and human rights violations. The report cautions against anti-corruption efforts faltering despite progress in some nations, particularly Ukraine.
The report highlights concerning declines in corruption scores among several Western nations. For instance, the United States saw a reduction from 69 points to 65, resulting in a drop from 24th to 28th position. France and Germany experienced similar declines, further underscoring a negative trend in governance among developed countries.
Countries ranked the lowest include South Sudan and Somalia, with scores of 8 and 9 respectively. Venezuela and Syria also rank as highly corrupt, with scores of 10 and 12. Transparency International stresses that corruption hinders economic development and threatens democracy, stability, and human rights, urging immediate attention to curb these rising corruption levels.
The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index reveals continuing challenges with corruption globally, particularly in India, which dropped in its rankings. The report highlights persistent corruption threats in South Asia and alarming declines in scores among Western nations, emphasizing the need for urgent action to combat these issues. Corruption significantly undermines efforts to address critical global challenges, such as climate change.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
