Kathmandu- Nepal has scored 34 out of 100 in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024, as released by Transparency International (TI). This marks a slight decline from last year’s score of 35, highlighting the urgent need for stronger anti-corruption measures.

Despite nearly eight years since the adoption of the 2015 Constitution and the implementation of a federal system, Nepal has yet to make significant progress in curbing corruption. To address this, it is crucial to strengthen political commitment to integrity, take impartial action against bribery and corruption in government, ensure a fair judicial process, and implement effective measures to control corruption in the business sector.

Among South Asian nations, Bhutan leads with a score of 72, followed by India and the Maldives at 38, Nepal at 34, Sri Lanka at 32, Pakistan at 27, Bangladesh at 23, and Afghanistan at 17. Nepal’s neighbor China has scored 43.

The 2024 CPI includes 180 countries, with Denmark maintaining its position as the least corrupt nation for the seventh consecutive year, scoring 90. On the other hand, South Sudan, with a score of 8, is ranked as the most corrupt country. The index rates countries on a scale of 0 to 100, where 100 signifies the cleanest and 0 the most corrupt.

Globally, corruption remains a significant challenge, with two-thirds of the surveyed nations scoring below 50. The average global score remains stagnant at 43. Conflict-affected and politically unstable nations tend to have lower scores. Moreover, countries actively engaged in international climate change efforts have also recorded lower CPI scores.

While this year’s World Bank survey indicates some improvements, data from the World Economic Forum and Global Insight suggest that corruption is rising in sectors such as exports, services, taxation, contracts, imports, and judicial decisions. Without decisive action, Nepal risks further setbacks in governance and public trust.