Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index 2024: Pakistan’s Ranking Drops as Corruption Increases

Berlin:Transparency International has released its Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2024, revealing an increase in corruption and a decline in democratic conditions in Pakistan. According to the index, Pakistan has become the 46th most corrupt country in the world, with its rank dropping to 135th out of 180 countries. Pakistan’s score on the index has been recorded at 27 out of 100, indicating a worsening situation.

The index highlights that the increase in corruption over the past year has caused Pakistan’s rank to drop by two places. In 2023, Pakistan was ranked 133rd, but in 2024, it now stands at 135th, reflecting a steady decline. In the previous year, Pakistan had been the 48th most corrupt country globally.

Transparency International also noted a decline in Pakistan’s position in the “Varieties of Democracy” project, which tracks the state of democracy around the world. Furthermore, Pakistan’s score on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s index has dropped from 20 to 18.

In terms of historical data, during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) era, Pakistan was ranked 140th out of 180 countries, making it the 41st most corrupt nation in the world.

The CPI also highlighted the top-performing countries, with Denmark being ranked the least corrupt, followed by Finland in second place and Singapore in third. India, in comparison, is ranked 96th, 39 places ahead of Pakistan.

On the other hand, the most corrupt countries in the world include South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela. Iran, Iraq, and Russia also saw an increase in corruption, with Russia ranked 154th, Afghanistan at 165th, and Iran at 151st.

This report paints a bleak picture of Pakistan’s governance and public sector transparency, signaling significant challenges in addressing corruption and improving the country’s democratic and political environment.