For the first time since 2010, Singapore has been named the least corrupt country in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International on February 11.
Globally, Singapore climbed two spots to rank third among the world's least corrupt countries, surpassing New Zealand, which had dominated the region’s top ranking for the past 14 years. The city-state also remains the only Asian nation to have consistently ranked in the top 10 since the index was first published in 1995.
In recent years, Singapore’s ranking has fluctuated—reaching its highest position of third in 2018 and 2020, while dropping to fifth place in 2022 and 2023. This year, Singapore scored 84 out of 100, an improvement from the previous year, though still below its record high of 87 achieved in 2012.
Top 10 Least Corrupt Countries in Asia-Pacific in 2024
| Rank | Country/Territory | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 84 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 83 |
| 3 | Australia | 77 |
| 4 | Hong Kong | 74 |
| 5 | Bhutan | 72 |
| 6 | Japan | 71 |
| 7 | United Arab Emirates | 68 |
| 8 | Taiwan | 67 |
| 9 | Israel | 64 |
| 9 | South Korea | 59 |
| 10 | Qatar | 59 |
| 10 | Saudi Arabia | 59 |
Singapore’s Commitment to Clean Governance
In a press release on February 11, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) reaffirmed that Singapore’s reputation as one of the least corrupt countries is the result of its people’s strong commitment to rejecting corruption and reporting violations. This consistency is reflected in the country’s low number of public sector corruption cases.
Beyond excelling in the Corruption Perceptions Index, Singapore has also maintained its position as the least corrupt country in Asia, the U.S., and Australia for the past 30 years, according to the 2024 Political and Economic Risk Consultancy report.
On a global scale, Singapore ranks third and continues to lead Asia in the World Justice Project’s 2024 Rule of Law Index.
Corruption Rankings: Democracies vs. Autocracies
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) assesses 180 countries and territories based on perceived levels of public sector corruption, using a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The 2024 assessment is based on 13 expert sources and business surveys.
The report also highlights a stark contrast between countries with strong institutions and fair elections, which score an average of 73, compared to weak democracies (47) and authoritarian regimes (33).
World's 10 Most Corrupt Countries in 2024
| Rank | Country/Territory | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmark | 90 |
| 2 | Finland | 88 |
| 3 | Singapore | 84 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 83 |
| 5 | Luxembourg | 81 |
| 6 | Norway | 81 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 81 |
| 8 | Sweden | 80 |
| 9 | Netherlands | 78 |
| 10 | Australia | 77 |
