Kathmandu: Denmark has once again been ranked as the least corrupt country in the world, while South Sudan remains the most corrupt, according to the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024 released by Transparency International today.

Denmark secured the top position for the seventh consecutive year with a score of 90 out of 100, whereas South Sudan scored just 8 points, making it the most corrupt among 180 surveyed nations.

Nepal’s Ranking in the CPI
Nepal ranked 107th, scoring 34 points, according to Transparency International Nepal. The CPI scale ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates extreme corruption and 100 signifies a corruption-free environment. A score below 50 indicates a relatively high level of corruption.

The global average score this year stands at 43, with countries suffering from conflict, instability, and governance issues ranking the lowest. The report also notes that countries championing climate action have low CPI scores, suggesting corruption in environmental policies.

Madan Krishna Sharma, Chairperson of Transparency International Nepal, called for urgent anti-corruption efforts in the country to improve governance and transparency.

South Asia and Global Rankings
Among South Asian nations, Bhutan is the least corrupt with 72 points, while Afghanistan ranks the lowest with 17 points. Other rankings include:

-India – 38
-Maldives – 38
-Sri Lanka – 32
-Pakistan – 27
-Bangladesh – 23
-China – 43
The rankings reflect the urgent need for stronger anti-corruption measures in Nepal and South Asia, as many countries in the region continue to struggle with weak institutions and lack of transparency.