New Zealand has been dethroned as the least corrupt country in the Asia Pacific region after holding the position for over a decade, according to Transparency International.
Singapore is the least corrupt country in APAC in 2024, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. Based on at least three data sources from 13 different corruption surveys and assessments, the city-state recorded a score of 84 out of 100. This is an improvement from its score of 83 and rank of fifth place in 2023.
The city-state has dethroned New Zealand which has been in first place within the region for 14 years.
Global Rankings
Globally, Singapore was ranked as the third least corrupt nation on the index. Denmark took the top spot for the seventh consecutive year with a score of 90, followed by Finland with 88 points. Asian hub rival Hong Kong was in the 74th position with a score of 74. In total, the index ranked 180 countries and territories globally.
«Corruption is an evolving global threat that does far more than undermine development – it is a key cause of declining democracy, instability and human rights violations,» said François Valérian, chair of Transparency International.
«The international community and every nation must make tackling corruption a top and long-term priority. This is crucial to pushing back against authoritarianism and securing a peaceful, free and sustainable world. The dangerous trends revealed in this year's Corruption Perceptions Index highlight the need to follow through with concrete action now to address global corruption.»
