The organization Transparency International focuses on the goal of ending corruption. This organization puts out a ranking of countries (least corrupt to most corrupt). The Transparency International ranking list is called the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The CPI gauges how countries are perceived in terms of public corruption level. Nepotism, bribery, and other aspects of corruption are factored into the rankings.
The most recent CPI list is from 2024. Each country on the list gets a score and a ranking. The score given is out of 100. The top three (least corrupt) countries on the list are Denmark, Finland, and Singapore. Denmark is the number one country on the list. Denmark’s 2024 CPI score is 90. Finland is the second country on the ranking list. The CPI score for Finland is 88. The third country on the ranking list is Singapore. For Singapore, the CPI score is 84.
1. Denmark
Transparency International’s most recent Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is from 2024. The country found to be least corrupt according to the index is Denmark. The ranking list contains one hundred eighty countries. Denmark received a score of 90 out of 100 based on the CPI ranking criteria. This score is the same score Denmark received from Transparency International in 2023.
One area of concern for Transparency International is the relationship between corruption and climate change preparedness. Denmark particularly shines in its climate change policy. Transparency International presents a positive perception of Denmark in terms of climate change readiness. According to Transparency International, Denmark is “seen as one of the most prepared” countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark lists several priorities regarding change. A main priority is global cooperation on plans for addressing climate change.
2. Finland
The second country on Transparency International’s list of the least corrupt countries is Finland. For 2024, Finland received a CPI score of 88, one point higher than its score from 2023. According to Finnish public media company Yle, Finland has often been high on this list. Finland has consistently done well since the ranking’s first publication in 1995. Yle also states that Finland “even topped the list in 2021.”
Yle explores the idea that Transparency International’s criteria for measuring corruption levels may be incomplete. Yle states that Finland’s “branch of Transparency International noted that the index has limited scope.” According to Ilkka Penttinen Fouto, Finland’s structural corruption risks “may not be taken into account.” Ilkka Penttinen Fouto is Transparency International Finland’s board chair. Yle explains that potentially overlooked risk areas could include “security policy and foreign trade.”
3. Singapore
Singapore is the third country on the CPI ranking list of least corrupt countries. Singapore’s 2024 CPI score is 84. This score is up one point from Singapore’s 2023 score. In addition, Singapore’s 2024 ranking is two points higher than its 2023 ranking. In an overview of scores between 2012 and 2024, Singapore’s highest score was in 2012. This score was 87.
Singapore works hard to keep corruption at bay. Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) has as its mission pushing back against corruption. The CPIB has a guiding vision of fostering good governance and encouraging integrity. According to the CPIB, “Singapore’s reputation… in the world is hard-earned.” The CPIB states that there are consistently few cases of corruption in the public sector.
Corruption Perception Index Criteria Overview
Transparency International states that the CPI is the world’s “most widely used global corruption ranking.” CPI scores are not designed to represent views offered by Transparency International. Three sources of data at a minimum are consulted in generating a country’s CPI score. Thirteen surveys and corruption assessments provide informational resources.
A CPI score reflects perception about corruption within the public sector of a country. Nepotism in civil service appointments is one aspect of corruption included. Other corruption examples factored in are bribery and using public sector roles for personal gain. More topics examined are information about government activities and legal protection for corruption reporting.
