Pakistan has fallen two places in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024, ranking 135th out of 180 countries, compared to 133rd in 2023, according to a report released by Transparency International.
The CPI measures perceived public sector corruption on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Pakistan’s score dropped from 29 in 2023 to 27 in 2024, reflecting a decline in perceived transparency.
Regional and Global Trends
According to Transparency International Pakistan (TIP), while most countries in the region saw a decline in their scores, Oman, China, Türkiye, and Mongolia experienced improvements. Despite the overall negative trend, Pakistan remained one of the countries holding up against the regional downslide.
The CPI 2024 report highlighted that corruption levels worldwide remain alarmingly high, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50. It noted that 85% of the global population (6.8 billion people) live in countries with CPI scores under 50, indicating widespread governance challenges.
Top and Lowest-Ranking Countries
For the seventh consecutive year, Denmark ranked as the least corrupt country with a score of 90, followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84).
At the bottom of the index were countries facing conflict and instability, including South Sudan (8), Somalia (9), Venezuela (10), Syria (12), Libya (13), Eritrea (13), Yemen (13), and Equatorial Guinea (13).
While the Middle East and North Africa showed a slight improvement for the first time in over a decade, increasing its average score by one point to 39, Transparency International emphasized that corruption remains a major challenge in the region.
Global Corruption Trends and Notable Changes
Transparency International observed a decline in Western Europe and the EU’s average score for the second consecutive year, citing concerns that many leaders prioritize business interests over the common good and fail to enforce anti-corruption laws effectively.
Several major countries, including Austria (67), France (67), Germany (75), the United States (65), and Switzerland (81), saw a drop in their scores, reflecting growing concerns over corruption and governance.
Meanwhile, seven countries showed significant improvement over the past five years, including Côte d’Ivoire (45), the Dominican Republic (36), Kosovo (44), Kuwait (46), the Maldives (38), Moldova (43), and Zambia (39).
Conversely, 13 countries, including Austria, Belarus, Belgium, France, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Russia, Sri Lanka, the UK, and Venezuela, saw significant declines in their scores over the same period.
Corruption and Its Impact on Climate Action
The report emphasized how corruption weakens governance, undermines law enforcement, and diverts critical climate finance, making it harder to address the global climate crisis. It warned that without strong national anti-corruption measures, major climate agreements like the Paris Agreement could be at risk.
Transparency International Chair Francois Valerian described corruption as an evolving global threat that fuels declining democracy, instability, and human rights violations. He urged governments to prioritize anti-corruption efforts to combat authoritarianism and ensure a more stable and sustainable world.
The Transparency International CEO, Maíra Martini, further stressed that corruption allows powerful actors to shape policies, dismantle accountability structures, and suppress journalists and activists. She called for robust transparency and accountability measures to prevent the misuse of climate funds and safeguard vulnerable populations.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s declining CPI ranking underscores the need for stronger anti-corruption efforts to improve governance and public trust. With corruption continuing to challenge global economies, greater accountability and enforcement remain critical for long-term progress.
