Transparency International, a global coalition against corruption, has ranked Nigeria as the 36th most corrupt country in the world, according to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released on Tuesday.
Nigeria shares the 36th position with Uganda, Mexico, Madagascar, Iraq and Cameroon, each scoring 26 points on the corruption index.
Denmark retained its position as the least corrupt country in the world with 90 points, followed by Finland with 88 points and Singapore with 84 points. The top 10 least corrupt nations were predominantly European, with no African country making the list.
However, Cape Verde emerged as the least corrupt country in Africa, ranking 35th globally with 62 points.
At the other end of the spectrum, South Sudan, Somalia and Venezuela were named the most corrupt countries in the world for the year under review.
Commenting on the report, Francois Valeria, Chair of Transparency International, emphasised the widespread threat of corruption and its impact on global challenges such as climate change.
“The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that corruption is a dangerous problem in every part of the world, but change for the better is happening in many countries,” Valeria said.
“Research also reveals that corruption is a major threat to climate action. It hinders progress in reducing emissions and adapting to the unavoidable effects of global heating.”
The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories worldwide based on perceived levels of public sector corruption, using a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
While 32 countries have significantly reduced corruption levels since 2012, Transparency International noted that 148 countries have either stagnated or worsened in the same period.
“The global average of 43 has also stood still for years, while over two-thirds of countries score below 50. Billions of people live in countries where corruption destroys lives and undermines human rights,” Valeria added.
Score Country Rank
90Denmark1
88Finland2
84Singapore3
83New Zealand4
81Luxembourg5
81Norway5
81Switzerland5
80Sweden8
78Netherlands9
77Australia10
77Iceland10
77Ireland10
76Estonia13
76Uruguay13
75Canada15
75Germany15
74Hong Kong17
72Bhutan18
72Seychelles18
71Japan20
71United Kingdom20
69Belgium22
68Barbados23
68United Arab Emirates23
67Austria25
67France25
67Taiwan25
65Bahamas28
65United States of America28
64Israel30
64South Korea30
63Chile32
63Lithuania32
63Saint Vincent and the Grenadines32
62Cabo Verde35
60Dominica36
60Slovenia36
59Latvia38
59Qatar38
59Saint Lucia38
59Saudi Arabia38
58Costa Rica42
57Botswana43
57Portugal43
57Rwanda43
56Cyprus46
56Czechia46
56Grenada46
56Spain46
55Fiji50
55Oman50
54Italy52
53Bahrain53
53Georgia53
53Poland53
51Mauritius56
50Malaysia57
50Vanuatu57
49Greece59
49Jordan59
49Namibia59
49Slovakia59
47Armenia63
47Croatia63
46Kuwait65
46Malta65
46Montenegro65
46Romania65
45Benin69
45Côte d’Ivoire69
45Sao Tome and Principe69
45Senegal69
44Jamaica73
44Kosovo73
44Timor-Leste73
43Bulgaria76
43China76
43Moldova76
43Solomon Islands76
42Albania80
42Ghana80
41Burkina Faso82
41Cuba82
41Hungary82
41South Africa82
41Tanzania82
41Trinidad and Tobago82
40Kazakhstan88
40North Macedonia88
40Suriname88
40Vietnam88
39Colombia92
39Guyana92
39Tunisia92
39Zambia92
38Gambia96
38India96
38Maldives96
37Argentina99
37Ethiopia99
37Indonesia99
37Lesotho99
37Morocco99
36Dominican Republic104
35Serbia105
35Ukraine105
34Algeria107
34Brazil107
34Malawi107
34Nepal107
34Niger107
34Thailand107
34Turkey107
33Belarus114
33Bosnia and Herzegovina114
33Laos114
33Mongolia114
33Panama114
33Philippines114
33Sierra Leone114
32Angola121
32Ecuador121
32Kenya121
32Sri Lanka121
32Togo121
32Uzbekistan121
31Djibouti127
31Papua New Guinea127
31Peru127
30Egypt130
30El Salvador130
30Mauritania130
28Bolivia133
28Guinea133
27Eswatini135
27Gabon135
27Liberia135
27Mali135
27Pakistan135
26Cameroon140
26Iraq140
26Madagascar140
26Mexico140
26Nigeria140
26Uganda140
25Guatemala146
25Kyrgyzstan146
25Mozambique146
24Central African Republic149
24Paraguay149
23Bangladesh151
23Congo151
23Iran151
22Azerbaijan154
22Honduras154
22Lebanon154
22Russia154
21Cambodia158
21Chad158
21Comoros158
21Guinea-Bissau158
21Zimbabwe158
20Democratic Republic of the Congo163
19Tajikistan164
17Afghanistan165
17Burundi165
17Turkmenistan165
16Haiti168
16Myanmar168
15North Korea170
15Sudan170
14Nicaragua172
13Equatorial Guinea173
13Eritrea173
13Libya173
13Yemen173
12Syria177
10Venezuela178
9Somalia179
8South Sudan180
