Pakistan has fallen two positions to rank 135th among 180 countries in Transparency International's latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI), according to the watchdog's 2024 report released Tuesday.
The South Asian nation scored 27 out of 100 points, down from its previous rating, making it the 46th most corrupt country globally. This marks a continued decline from 2023, when Pakistan ranked 133rd with a marginally better score.
The annual assessment, which draws data from eight different sources, revealed deteriorating performances across multiple indicators. The Varieties of Democracy Project showed Pakistan's score dropping from 20 to 14, while the Economics Intelligence Unit reported a decrease from 20 to 18 points.
OUT NOW! We analysed 180 countries to see how they scored in the fight against corruption. Check out your country’s score! #CPI2024
— Transparency International (@anticorruption) February 11, 2025
The World Economic Survey also showed that Pakistan's score fell from 45 to 33 points, which shows that governance and transparency measures are difficult.
In regional comparisons, India ranked 96th, performing 39 positions better than Pakistan. Bangladesh placed 151st, while Afghanistan ranked 165th in the global index.
Denmark maintained its position as the world's least corrupt nation, followed by Finland and Singapore. At the other end of the spectrum, South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela ranked as the most corruption-prone countries.
The report also emphasized the connection between corruption and climate change, identifying Pakistan as one of several nations facing dual challenges in these areas. Transparency International stressed the need for robust, transparent mechanisms to manage climate-related funds effectively.
"Countries must implement stronger accountability measures to ensure effective use of resources," the report stated, highlighting the link between corruption and environmental governance.
