No Country is Corruption-Free, But This One Is Close

According to Transparency International’s website, they are a global movement working in over 100 countries “to end the injustice of corruption.” Their most recent research shows a global trend of weakening justice systems. This trend allows for reduced accountability and corruption to thrive in both authoritarian and democratic countries. Based on the group’s corruption perception index, which scores countries’ perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), over two-thirds of countries score below 50, and the global average is only 43. Still, some countries score considerably higher and are relatively “clean.”

To find the least corrupt countries in the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index. Of the 180 countries ranked by the CPI, we listed the 48 least corrupt countries — those that have a CPI score of 54 or higher. Population, GDP per capita in current U.S. dollars, and life expectancy at birth data came from the World Bank. The CPI notes it “aggregates data from several different sources that capture perceptions among businesspeople and country experts of the level of corruption in the public sector.”

Among Transparency International’s 48 countries at the top of its 2023 index, 24 are in Western Europe and the EU region. In fact, the average score among countries in the region is 65 out of 100. Four Nordic countries are in the top 10 cleanest countries, with the top 10 score beginning at 78 for Luxembourg and tops out at 90 for Denmark.

Except for five of the top-ranking countries, all have a higher GDP per capita than the global average of nearly $12,700, and many rank among the wealthiest countries. Similarly, only three countries have a lower average life expectancy at birth than the world average of 71.3 years.

Even countries ranking high have an impunity problem, the CPI report notes. “Many cross-border corruption cases have involved companies from top-scoring countries that resort to bribery when doing business abroad.” In addition, professionals sell secrets or enable foreign corrupt officials, yet these countries often fail to prosecute these offenses.

Why This Matters?

Businessman refusing money in the envelope offered by a man - anti bribery and corruption concepts

Corruption weakens democracies and increases inequality, social division, poverty, and the environmental crisis. If we can better understand corruption and what “makes it tick,” we are better able to expose it when we see it and hold those responsible accountable. Corruption happens anywhere and with anyone. Transparency in public offices is how we are able to ensure it doesn’t happen.

48. Slovakia

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 54 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 7 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $21,257 (#42 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 74.7 years (#59 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 5,431,752

47. Poland

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 54 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 6 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $18,688 (#47 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 75.6 years (#52 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 36,821,749

46. Saint Lucia

Global region: Americas
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 55 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 16 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $13,031 (#59 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 71.1 years (#97 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 179,857

45. Costa Rica

Global region: Americas
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 55 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 2 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $13,365 (#57 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 77.0 years (#41 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 5,180,829

44. Dominica

Global region: Americas
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 56 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 2 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $8,351 (#75 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 72.8 years (#80 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 72,737

43. Slovenia

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 56 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 1 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $28,439 (#35 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 80.9 years (#28 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 2,111,986

42. Italy

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 56 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 13 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $34,776 (#25 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 82.8 years (#12 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 58,940,425

41. Czechia

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 57 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 9 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $27,227 (#37 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 77.4 years (#40 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 10,672,118

40. Qatar

Global region: Middle East & North Africa
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 58 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 10 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $87,661 (#5 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 79.3 years (#32 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 2,695,122

39. Botswana

Global region: sub-Saharan Africa
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 59 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 5 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $7,739 (#78 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 61.1 years (#159 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 2,630,296

38. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Global region: Americas
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 60 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 2 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $9,125 (#71 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 69.6 years (#113 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 103,948

37. Latvia

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 60 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 7 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $21,780 (#41 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 73.3 years (#76 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 1,879,383

36. Spain

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 60 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 1-point improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $29,675 (#34 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 83.2 years (#7 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 47,778,340

35. Portugal

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 61 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 1 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $24,515 (#40 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 81.1 years (#26 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 10,409,704

34. Lithuania

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 61 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 4 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $25,065 (#38 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 74.3 years (#62 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 2,831,639

33. Israel

Global region: Middle East & North Africa
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 62 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 1-point improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $54,931 (#14 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 82.5 years (#15 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 9,557,500

32. Korea, South

Global region: Asia Pacific
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 63 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 8 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $32,423 (#29 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 83.5 years (#4 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 51,628,117

31. Bahamas

Global region: Americas
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 64 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 7 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $31,458 (#31 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 71.6 years (#94 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 409,984

30. Cabo Verde

Global region: sub-Saharan Africa
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 64 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 6 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $3,754 (#111 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 74.1 years (#64 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 593,149

29. Chile

Global region: Americas
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 66 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 5 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $15,355 (#53 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 78.9 years (#33 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 19,603,733

28. Taiwan

Global region: Asia Pacific
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 67 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 6 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $32,698 (#28 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 81.4 years (#23 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 23,588,613

27. Bhutan

Global region: Asia Pacific
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 68 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 5 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2021: $3,560 (#114 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 71.8 years (#92 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 782,455

26. United Arab Emirates

Global region: Middle East & North Africa
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 68 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 1 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $53,708 (#15 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 78.7 years (#36 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 9,441,129

25. Barbados

Global region: Americas
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 69 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 6 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $20,239 (#45 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 77.6 years (#39 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 281,635

24. United States

Global region: Americas
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 69 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 4 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $76,330 (#7 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 76.3 years (#49 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 333,287,557

23. Seychelles

Global region: sub-Saharan Africa
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 71 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 17 points of improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $13,250 (#58 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 73.4 years (#74 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 119,878

22. Austria

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 71 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 2 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $52,085 (#16 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 812 years (#24 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 9,041,851

21. United Kingdom

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 71 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 5 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $46,125 (#22 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 80.7 years (#29 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 66,971,395

20. France

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 71 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 0 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $40,886 (#24 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 82.3 years (#16 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 67,971,311

19. Iceland

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 72 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 6 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $73,467 (#8 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 83.1 years (#10 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 382,003

18. Uruguay

Global region: Americas
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 73 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 0 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $20,795 (#44 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 75.4 years (#53 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 3,422,794

17. Belgium

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 73 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 2 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $49,927 (#18 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 81.9 years (#20 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 11,685,814

16. Japan

Global region: Asia Pacific
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 73 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 1 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $34,017 (#27 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 84.4 years (#2 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 125,124,989

15. Hong Kong

Global region: Asia Pacific
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 75 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 0 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $48,984 (#19 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 85.5 years (#1 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 7,346,100

14. Australia

Global region: Asia Pacific
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 75 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 6 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $65,100 (#10 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 83.3 years (#6 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 26,005,540

13. Estonia

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 76 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 8 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $28,247 (#36 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 76.7 years (#44 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 1,348,840

12. Canada

Global region: Americas
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 76 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 5 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $55,522 (#13 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 82.6 years (#14 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 38,929,902

11. Ireland

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 77 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 5 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $103,983 (#3 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 82.1 years (#18 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 5,127,170

10. Luxembourg

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 78 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 2 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $125,006 (#1 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 82.7 years (#13 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 653,103

9. Germany

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 78 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 0 points improvement
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $48,718 (#20 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 80.9 years (#27 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 83,797,985

8. Netherlands

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 79 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 4 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $57,025 (#11 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 81.5 years (#21 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 17,700,982

7. Switzerland

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 82 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 3 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $93,260 (#4 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 83.9 years (#3 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 8,775,760

6. Sweden

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 82 out of 100 (tied)
Decade change in corruption: 7 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $56,424 (#12 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 83.2 years (#9 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 10,486,941

5. Singapore

Global region: Asia Pacific
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 83 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 3 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $82,808 (#6 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 83.4 years (#5 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 5,637,022

4. Norway

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 84 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 2 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $108,729 (#2 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 83.2 years (#8 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 5,457,127

3. New Zealand

Global region: Asia Pacific
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 85 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 6 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $48,419 (#21 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 82.2 years (#17 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 5,124,100

2. Finland

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 87 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 2 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $50,872 (#17 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 81.9 years (#19 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 5,556,106

1. Denmark

Global region: Western Europe & EU
Corruption Perception Index, 2023: 90 out of 100
Decade change in corruption: 1 points decline
GDP per capita (current USD), 2022: $67,790 (#9 highest out of 175 countries)
Life expectancy at birth, 2021: 81.4 years (#22 highest out of 180 countries)
Total population in 2022: 5,903,037

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The post No Country is Corruption-Free, But This One Is Close appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..