Denmark, Finland and Singapore are ranked as the least corrupt countries in the world, amid a large rise in the global corruption levels that are described as 'alarmingly high' by experts.
Last year's best-ranked country, Denmark, remained at the top this year, although the CPI score remained the same on 88/100.
Runner Up Finland, which was also in second place last year, achieved a single point and also scored 88/100. Singapore, in third place this year, jumped from the 5th after achieving a single point to score 84/100.
The Corruption Perception Index, an annual study of Transparency International, records data from institutions, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum to rank how corrupt the public sector of each nation is considered by experts and business leaders.
With the help of a scale of 0-100, where 0 is 'very corrupt' and 100 'very clean', 180 countries are assessed and then arranged to form the index.
Although some countries scores very much, a large part of the world saw an important slide to corruption. South Sudan slid to the bottom of the index with only eight points, which moved Somalia, although the score of the last country dropped to nine. They were followed by Venezuela with 10 and Syria with 12.
Transparency International discovered that 47 countries of the 180 IT -Subsulated last year had their lowest score since its current methodology for his global ranking began to use in 2012.
It said in his survey from 2024 that “worldwide corruption levels remain alarmingly high, with attempts to reduce them.”
The group also pointed to global risks from corruption to efforts to combat climate change.
Last year's best country, Denmark, remained at the top this year, although the CPI score remained the same on 88/100 (file image of Copenhagen, Denmark)
Zuid -Sudan slid to the bottom of the index with only eight points (file image of Sudanese rescue teams and security forces gather in addition to damaged vehicles in Khartoem)
It said that a lack of transparency and accountability mechanisms increases the risk that climate funds will be darkened or abused, while 'inappropriate influence', often of the private sector, impedes the approval of ambitious policy.
The US slid from 69 points to 65 and from 24th place to 28th. Transparency International pointed to criticism of his judicial branch. It noted that the American Supreme Court adopted its first ethical code in 2023, but serious questions remain about the lack of meaningful, objective enforcement mechanisms and the power of the new rules themselves. '
Other Western countries on the decline were France, which dropped four points to 67 and five places to 25th; And Germany, three points to 75 and six places to the 15th. The covenant with Canada, which was one point and three places.
Mexico dropped five points to 26 because the judiciary was unable to take action in large corruption cases, said Transparency International.
“Despite former President André's Manuel López Obrador's promises to tackle corruption and give stolen assets back to the people, his six -year term ended without convictions or restored assets,” it added.
In Europe, Slovakia dropped five points to 49 in the first full year of the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, “as numerous reforms hollow anti-corruption controls and bypass public consultation.”
Russia, which has fallen considerably in recent years, achieved four points at 22 last year. Transparency International noted that Moscow's full invasion of Ukraine has 'further anchored authoritarianism' in February 2022.
It said that Ukraine, while the score dropped one point to 35, “makes steps in judicial independence and high -level corruption persecutions.”
In the Middle East and North Africa the situation of anti-corruption efforts remains 'gloomy' while political leaders exercise almost absolute control, while they benefit from wealth and clinging deviating opinions, the group said.
But it said that “unforeseen opportunities also arise,” for example in the aftermath of the fall of President Bashar Assad in Syria. Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest average score of each region, at 33.
In Asia and the Pacific Ocean, governments still cannot deliver anti-corruption to the ends, “said Transparency International.
