Corruption Perception Index 2022
Corruption Perception Index 2022
Corruption Perception Index 2022
PERCEPTIONS
CORRUPTION
INDEX
2022
EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:01 CET/00:01 EST TUESDAY, 31 JANUARY 2023
#cpi2022
www.transparency.org/cpi
Every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information
contained in this report. All information was believed to be correct as of
January 2023. Nevertheless, Transparency International cannot accept
responsibility for the consequences of its use for other purposes or in
other contexts.
ISBN: 978-3-96076-233-1
CORRUPTION
PERCEPTIONS
INDEX 2022
2-3 11-14 15
TABLE OF CONTENTS
8-10
Corruption, conflict
and security
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
180 COUNTRIES.
180 SCORES.
HOW DOES
YOUR COUNTRY
MEASURE UP?
SCORE
Highly Very
Corrupt Clean
0-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 90-100 No Data Disputed Lines of
Boundaries* Control*
*The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map follow the UN practice to the best of our knowledge and
as of January 2023. They do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of Transparency International concerning the legal
status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
2
CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2022
3
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
The COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis and growing security
threats across the globe are fuelling a new wave of uncertainty.
In an already unstable world, countries failing to address their
corruption problems worsen the effects. They also contribute
to democratic decline and empower authoritarians.
This year’s Corruption Perceptions Unsurprisingly, most countries Corruption is also a threat to
Index (CPI) reveals that 124 at the bottom of the CPI are global security, and countries
countries have stagnant currently experiencing armed with high CPI scores play a role
corruption levels, while the conflict or have recently done so. in this. For decades, they have
number of countries in decline welcomed dirty money from
is increasing. This has the most On the other hand, even in abroad, allowing kleptocrats to
serious consequences, as global peaceful societies, corruption increase their wealth, power
peace is deteriorating1 and and impunity can spill over and geopolitical ambitions. The
corruption is both a key cause into violence by fuelling social catastrophic consequences of the
and result of this. grievances.2 And siphoning off advanced economies’ complicity in
resources needed by security transnational corruption became
Corruption and conflict feed each agencies leaves states unable painfully clear following Russia’s
other and threaten durable peace. to protect the public and uphold full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On one hand, conflict creates a the rule of law. Consequently,
breeding ground for corruption. countries with higher levels In this complex environment,
Political instability, increased of corruption are more likely fighting corruption, promoting
pressure on resources and to also exhibit higher levels of transparency and strengthening
weakened oversight bodies create organised crime and increased institutions are critical to avoid
opportunities for crimes, such security threats. further conflict and sustain peace.3
as bribery and embezzlement.
180
100
0
THE CPI USES A SCALE
COUNTRIES SCORED FROM 0 TO 100
The CPI scores 180 countries and territories by their 100 is very clean and 0 is highly corrupt
perceived levels of public sector corruption, according
to experts and business people.
50/100
4
43/100
CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2022
Daniel Eriksson
Chief Executive Officer, Transparency International
Recommendations
Dealing with the threats that corruption poses to peace and security must be a core business of political leaders.
Prioritising transparency, oversight and the full, meaningful engagement of civil society, governments should:
Anti-corruption agencies and oversight institutions Ensure the public receives accessible, timely and
must have sufficient resources and independence to meaningful information, including on public spending
perform their duties. Governments should strengthen and resource distribution. There must be rigorous and
institutional controls to manage risk of corruption in clear guidelines for withholding sensitive information,
defence and security.4 including in the defence sector.
5
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTS
Despite concerted efforts and many hard-won gains, the CPI
2022 shows that the scale of corruption is enormous: the global
average remains unchanged at a score of 43 out of 100 for the
eleventh year running, and more than two-thirds of countries
(68 per cent) score below 50.
The index ranks 180 countries Countries with strong institutions On the flip side, countries
and territories by their perceived and well-functioning democracies experiencing conflict or where
levels of public-sector corruption often find themselves at the top basic personal and political
according to experts and of the Index. Denmark heads freedoms are highly restricted
businesspeople. It relies on 13 the ranking, with a score of 90. tend to earn the lowest marks.
independent data sources and Finland and New Zealand follow This year, Somalia, Syria, and
uses a scale of zero to 100, where closely with a score of 87. Norway, South Sudan are at the bottom
zero is highly corrupt and 100 is Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, of the index. Venezuela, Yemen,
very clean. the Netherlands, Germany, Libya, North Korea, Haiti,
Ireland and Luxembourg Equatorial Guinea and Burundi
complete the top 10 this year. are also in the bottom 10.
66 /100 32 /100
AVERAGE REGIONAL SCORE AVERAGE REGIONAL SCORE
6
CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2022
In the past five years, only eight CPI SCORE CHANGES, 2012-2022
countries have significantly
improved their scores, and
10 countries have dropped Number of countries that the underlying data sources largely agree improved or
significantly, including high- declined, over the period 2012 to 2021, for all 180 countries with data available.5
ranking countries such as Austria,
Luxembourg and the United 25 31 124
Kingdom. The rest (90 per cent
of countries) have had stagnant
corruption levels.
Countries that the underlying data sources largely agree improved or declined over the period 2018 to 2022.
A full list of all statistically significant changes is available in the CPI 2022 dataset.
90
CPI 2022 BASELINE CPI SCORE CPI GLOBAL AVERAGE
2018
2018
80
2020
70 -7 -7
+6 -5
60
2018 2019
50
+9
+11 +7 -6
CPI SCORE
40
+14 2018
2018
30 2019
2019
-6
20
2018
10
0
LA
A
AM
RI A
IA
DA
OM
OV
IVE
UT
TA
YS
GO
NA
ST
TN
GD
LD
K IS
LA
SO
LD
AN
AU
CA
V IE
MO
MA
IN
MA
PA
A,
DK
RE
7
KO
ITE
UN
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
CORRUPTION,
CONFLICT AND
SECURITY
Corruption is a fundamental threat to peace and security.
It has been shown time and again6 that corruption is not only
a consequence but also a cause of conflict, fuelling it in several
ways.7 Corruption generates new grievances in society, or
drives existing ones, by undermining defence and security
institutions, and by eroding state legitimacy.
It can also enable a country’s with disparities in the distribution violent responses against
elites to exert illegitimate of political and economic power protesters occurred in countries
influence, sow instability along ethnic or other group with CPI scores below 50.12
and undermine government lines.10 Corruption, exclusion and
institutions abroad as a way of outright discrimination increase Corruption weakens the state’s
securing favourable outcomes.8 the risk of outbreaks of violence capacity to protect its citizens.
The use of corruption as a and make them harder to control The misuse or theft of public
foreign policy weapon has also once they erupt.11 funds can deprive institutions
become a way to undermine responsible for ensuring security
democracy abroad.9 Since 2017, 130 countries have of the resources they need.13
seen significant social protests. In Our analysis shows that weak
Diverting public resources away 55 of these (42 per cent), at least law enforcement and defence
from the common good to one protest was driven by the institutions make it harder for
benefit special interest groups people’s discontent with the levels a state to secure control of its
can cause popular discontent. of corruption in government. territory and prevent violent
The resulting grievances are Unsurprisingly, 80 per cent of the threats, including terrorism.
particularly likely to lead to corruption related protests and
conflict when they coincide 82 per cent of the documented
8
CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2022
Countries with low CPI scores tend to experience more violent threats, and be worse at dealing with them and guaranteeing
the safety and security of their populations.
10
8
(0 - low security threats to 10 - high security threats)
6
SECURITY THREATS
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
CPI 2022
Source: Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2022 and the Fund for Peace Fragile States Index.
With the military firmly Mali’s (28) CPI score has declined Iran’s score on the CPI has
entrenched in power after its seven points since 2015. While been stagnant at its historical
2021 coup, Myanmar dropped corruption is not necessarily an minimum of 25 for the past
five points this year to 23. The active driver of the conflict, the three years. Tensions in the
governing powers are maintaining divisions behind the violence country had been building as
control by closely monitoring have been reinforced over a result of the economic crisis,
activists and dissenters after years of mismanagement and the impact of international
criminalising any actions seen indifference to the plight of sanctions and grievances over
as countering the government certain groups in Malian society. corruption. The death of Mahsa
shortly after the coup. They The grievances that jihadists have Amini in September 2022 ignited
also heavily censor information proved adept at exploiting stem the largest protests that the
released to the public, allowing largely from corruption, which country has seen in years. The
people access to just 1,200 has also prevented the state government’s violent response
government-approved websites. from providing security in all has resulted in over 450
parts of its territory. civilian casualties.
9
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
Corruption fuels impunity and of corrupt public officials, police This a major enabling factor of
undermines state legitimacy. officers, prosecutors and judges, organised crime14 and terrorism.15
By affecting the operation of which allows them to operate It also causes loss of trust in
law enforcement agencies, the with impunity. Where corruption the state, which means people
courts and the prison system, levels are high, money and report crime and violence less
corruption weakens the rule of influence may decide which cases – making it difficult to address
law and the basic principle of are prioritised or dismissed, who these problems. It also threatens
equality before the law. Criminals gets punished and who gets to governments’ ability to mediate
are often aided by the complicity walk free. conflict or negotiate lasting peace.
Countries with high CPI scores are more resilient to the threats posed by organised criminal groups.
7
(0 - low resilience to 9 - high resilience)
6
RESILIENCE TO ORGANISED CRIME
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
CPI 2022
Source: Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2022 and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.
With a score of 20, the Democratic Republic of the Serbia reached its all-time lowest score on the
Congo is one of the 15 most corrupt countries in CPI this year (36). It has been slow in addressing
the world. The unstable political context and deeply organised crime, and responsible institutions are
embedded corruption facilitate the activities of illegal still lacking adequate resourcing and independence.
armed groups. Poorly governed defence and security Serbia’s judiciary is heavily influenced by political
forces struggle to contend with such challenges players,16 severely undermining progress in organised
and the corruption that robs them of resources crime cases, including those pointing to high-level
undermines the state’s response. officials’ involvement.17
10
CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2022
REGIONAL
HIGHLIGHTS
This year’s scores reveal a continued standstill around the world
when it comes to governments fighting public sector corruption.
The continued impact of safeguards and threats to the rule increasing authoritarianism
the COVID-19 pandemic, a of law continue to undermine curtails dissenting voices and
changing security landscape governments’ effectiveness. undermines civil society’s function
and weakening democracy as a watchdog.
are affecting countries across Countries with low scores are
different regions in various ways. still unable to make significant In the Middle East and North
progress. In many parts of the Africa where unequal political
Countries in the top scoring Americas, Eastern Europe and and economic power is deeply
region, Western Europe and Central Asia, and Sub-Saharan intertwined with conflict,
the European Union, have been Africa, restrictions and attacks on corruption is undermining
stagnant for over a decade or civic space and basic freedoms democratic processes, causing
have steadily declined over continue amidst multiple crises pervasive civil unrest and
the past five years. Undue threatening security and stability, threatening regional security
influence over decision-making, democracy and human rights. and stability.
poor enforcement of integrity Similarly, in parts of Asia Pacific,
RESULTS BY REGION
Average regional scores, with top and bottom performers in each region.
35
66 EASTERN EUROPE
& CENTRAL ASIA
Average score
WESTERN EUROPE Top: Georgia (56/100)
& EU Bottom: Turkmenistan (19/100)
Average score
38
43
MIDDLE EAST
AMERICAS & NORTH AFRICA
Average score Average score
45
Top: Canada, Uruguay (74/100) Top: United Arab Emirates (67/100)
Bottom: Venezuela (14/100) Bottom: Syria (13/100)
32 ASIA PACIFIC
SUB-SAHARAN Average score
AFRICA Top: New Zealand (87/100)
Average score
Bottom: North Korea (17/100)
Top: Seychelles (70/100)
Bottom: Somalia (12/100)
11
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
AMERICAS
TOP SCORERS
CANADA
74/100
For the fourth consecutive year,
the Americas scores an average URUGUAY
of 43 out of 100. A lack of bold, 74/100
decisive action to fight corruption
and strengthen public institutions UNITED STATES
is fuelling organised criminal 69/100
activities and other sources of
violence. It is also undermining CHILE
democracy, human rights and 67/100
development.
43
BOTTOM SCORERS
NICARAGUA
19/100
HAITI
17/100
VENEZUELA
AVERAGE SCORE 14/100
ASIA PACIFIC
TOP SCORERS
NEW ZEALAND
87/100
As authoritarianism grows and
restrictions on civic space and SINGAPORE
basic freedoms imposed during 83/100
the pandemic remain in place,
Asia Pacific continues to stagnate HONG KONG
for the fourth year in a row with 76/100
an average score of 45 points.
While some governments have
BOTTOM SCORERS
45
NORTH KOREA
17/100
AVERAGE SCORE
12
CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2022
EASTERN EUROPE
TOP SCORERS
GEORGIA
AND CENTRAL ASIA 56/100
Across Eastern Europe and ARMENIA
Central Asia, high-level corruption
46/100
is closely linked to political
instability, weakened institutions MONTENEGRO
and – in the most extreme cases – 45/100
violent conflict. In the region with
the second lowest average score
(35), there is a vicious cycle of BOTTOM SCORERS TAJIKISTAN
corruption and authoritarianism, 24/100
as many governments undermine
democratic processes, crack AZERBAIJAN
down on civic space and restrict 23/100
media freedoms.
35
TURKMENISTAN
19/100
AVERAGE SCORE
38
SYRIA
13/100
AVERAGE SCORE
13
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
TOP SCORERS
SEYCHELLES
32
SOUTH SUDAN
13/100
SOMALIA
12/100
AVERAGE SCORE
66
42/100
AVERAGE SCORE
14
CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2022
METHODOLOGY
The Corruption Perceptions Index + Considers only the 3. Calculate the average. For a
(CPI) aggregates data from a assessments of country country or territory to be included
number of different sources experts or businesspeople in the CPI, a minimum of three
that provide perceptions of sources must assess that country.
businesspeople and country + Is regularly updated. A country’s CPI score is then
experts of the level of corruption calculated as the average of all
in the public sector. We take The CPI 2022 is calculated using standardised scores available for
the following steps to calculate 13 different data sources from that country. Scores are rounded
the CPI: 12 different institutions that to whole numbers.
have captured perceptions
1. Select data sources. Each data of corruption within the past 4. Report the measure of
source used to construct the CPI two years. uncertainty. The CPI score is
must fulfil the following criteria to accompanied by a standard error
qualify as a valid source: 2. Standardise data sources and confidence interval. This
to a scale of 0-100. This captures the variation across
+ Quantifies risks or standardisation is achieved by the data sources available for a
perceptions of corruption in subtracting the mean of each country or territory.
the public sector source in the baseline year from
each country score, then dividing
+ Is based on a reliable and by the standard deviation of that
valid methodology source in the baseline year. This
subtraction and division using
+ Comes from a reputable the baseline year parameters
organisation ensures that the CPI scores are
comparable year on year since
+ Allows for sufficient variation 2012. After this procedure,
of scores to distinguish the standardised scores are
between countries transformed to the CPI scale by
multiplying them with the value
+ Ranks a substantial number of the CPI standard deviation in
of countries 2012 (20) and adding the mean
of the CPI in 2012 (45), so that the
dataset fits the CPI’s 0-100 scale.
15
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
ENDNOTES
1 According to the Global Peace Index. 6 Transparency International 9 Zelikow P., Edelman E., Harrison
Defence and Security. 2017. “The K. and Gventer, C. 2020. “The Rise
2 World Bank. 2011. World Devel- Fifth Column: Understanding the of Strategic Corruption: How States
opment Report 2011: Conflict, Security Relationship Between Corruption Weaponize Graft”. Foreign Affairs Mag-
and Development. Washington DC: and Conflict”. London: Transparency azine. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/
International Bank for Reconstruction International UK. https://ti-defence. articles/united-states/2020-06-09/
and Development / The World Bank. org/publications/the-fifth-column/ rise-strategic-corruption
https://documents1.worldbank.org/
curated/en/806531468161369474/ 7 See Deglow A., and Fjelde H. 2021. 10 Cederman L., Weidmann N.
pdf/622550PUB0WDR0000public- “The Quality of Government and Civil and Gleditsch K. 2011. “Horizontal
00BOX361476B.pdf Conflict”, in Bagenholm A., Bauhr M., Inequalities and Ethnonationalist
Grimes M. and Rothstein B. (eds). The Civil War: A Global Comparison”.
3 United Nations. 2021. “The UN Oxford Handbook of the Quality of Gov- American Political Science Review.
common position to address global ernment. New York: Oxford University 105(3), pp. 478-495. https://www.
corruption: Towards UNGASS 2021”. Press. https://academic.oup.com/ cambridge.org/core/journals/amer-
New York: United Nations. https:// edited-volume/33431; Transparency ican-political-science-review/article/
ungass2021.unodc.org/uploads/ International Defence and Security. abs/horizontal-inequalities-and-eth-
ungass2021/documents/session1/ 2021. “The Common Denominator: nonationalist-civil-war-a-global-com-
contributions/UN_Common_Position_ How Corruption in the Security Sector parison/840A4D0FA634987190F-
to_Address_Global_Corruption_To- Fuels Insecurity in West Africa”. Lon- D73A38E136860#access-block
wards_UNGASS2021.pdf don: Transparency International UK.
https://ti-defence.org/publications/ 11 Transparency International and
4 Corruption risks within defence west-africa-security-defence-sec- Equal Rights Trust. 2021. “Defying
and security institutions in almost 90 tor-corruption-insecurity-conflict/ exclusion: Stories and insights on
countries are identified in Trans- the links between discrimination and
parency International’s Government 8 Transparency International corruption”. https://www.transparen-
Defence Integrity Index (GDI). Defence and Security. 2019. “Cor- cy.org/en/publications/defying-exclu-
ruption as Statecraft: Using Corrupt sion-corruption-discrimination
5 “Significant” progress refers to an Practices as Foreign Policy Tools”.
improvement backed by a majority London: Transparency International 12 Data obtained from the Carnegie
of the CPI’s underlying data sources. UK. https://ti-defence.org/wp-content/ Endowment for International Peace’s
Some countries have shown a score uploads/2019/11/DSP_Corruption- Global Protest Tracker. https://carneg-
at least three points higher or lower asStatecraft_251119.pdf ieendowment.org/publications/inter-
than that which they received in 2012, active/protest-tracker#
but there is a substantial variation
among the CPI’s underlying sources.
16
CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2022
17
CREATE CHANGE
WITH US
ENGAGE
Follow us, share your views and discuss corruption with people
from around the world on social media.
facebook.com/TransparencyInternational/
twitter.com/anticorruption/
linkedin.com/company/transparency-international/
instagram.com/Transparency_International/
youtube.com/user/TransparencyIntl/
LEARN
Visit our website to learn more about our work in more than
100 countries and sign up for the latest news in the fight
against corruption.
transparency.org
DONATE
transparency.org/donate
EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:01 CET/00:01 EST TUESDAY, 31 JANUARY 2023
Transparency International
International e. V.
Alt-Moabit 96, 10559 Berlin, Germany
[email protected]
www.transparency.org
Blog: transparency.org/en/blog
Facebook: /transparencyinternational
Twitter: @anticorruption