In Transparency International’s 2024 report, the Iranian regime ranked among the lowest in the “Corruption Perception Index.”
According to the report, Iran ranked 151st out of 180 countries in terms of corruption, scoring 23 points—one point lower than last year—making it one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Iraq, and Pakistan performed better than the Islamic Republic of Iran in terms of corruption.
Transparency International ranks 180 countries and regions worldwide based on the “perceived level” of public sector corruption. Scores range from zero (highly corrupt) to one hundred (very clean).
According to the report, Denmark (90), Finland (88), and Singapore (84) are at the top of the list and are recognized as the least corrupt countries.
Each country’s score is based on a combination of at least three data sources drawn from 13 different assessments and evaluations of corruption. These sources are compiled by reputable institutions, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
In this ranking, the highest possible score is 100, and a country’s ranking is less important than its actual score in indicating the level of corruption within that country.
The organization considers corruption a major factor in undermining democracy, causing instability, and violating human rights. It has called on the international community to make combating corruption a top and long-term priority.
In its report, the organization described the outlook for anti-corruption efforts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as “bleak,” noting that over the past 12 years, the regional Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score has increased by only one point, reaching 39 out of a possible 100. This makes it one of the lowest regional averages in the world.
According to the report, stagnation in corruption levels in this region is largely due to the absolute control of national leaders who, while amassing wealth, suppress any opposition to maintain their power and fuel conflicts in other countries. These leaders also obstruct progress on global issues such as advancing gender equality.
The United Arab Emirates holds the highest score in the region with 68 points, while Syria has the lowest with 12 points. Meanwhile, Bahrain has shown the most improvement since 2017, with a 17-point increase.
