Nigeria has been ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), according to Transparency International’s latest report released on Tuesday. While the country moved up five places compared to 2023 and ten spots from 2022, it still remains among the nations struggling with corruption.  

Denmark retained its position as the least corrupt country in the world, scoring 90 points, followed by Finland (88 points) and Singapore (84 points). In contrast, South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela ranked as the most corrupt nations globally.  

No African country made it into the top 10 least corrupt nations, as the rankings were dominated by European countries. However, Cape Verde emerged as the best-performing African country, ranking 35th globally with 62 points.  

Nigeria, with a score of 26 points, shared its position with Uganda, Mexico, Madagascar, Iraq, and Cameroon.  

Commenting on the findings, Transparency International Chair François Valeria highlighted the persistent challenge of corruption worldwide, noting its impact on governance, economic growth, and climate action.  

“The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index shows that corruption remains a dangerous problem across the world, but positive changes are happening in some countries,” Valeria stated.  

He further emphasized that corruption undermines human rights and economic progress, with over two-thirds of nations scoring below 50 on the scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).  

While 32 countries have made significant progress in reducing corruption since 2012, a staggering 148 countries have either remained stagnant or worsened, according to the report.  

With a global average score of 43 unchanged for years, Transparency International warns that billions of people still live under systems where corruption erodes institutions and threatens development.  

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