Transparency International has published its 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Ukraine scored 35 out of a possible 100 points, a drop of one point compared to 2023. At the same time, this score remains higher than before the full-scale Russian invasion: in 2021 it was 32 points.
The top three CPI-2024 performers are Denmark (90 points), Finland (88 points) and Singapore (84 points). Ukraine ranks 105 out of 180, tied with Serbia. The Dominican Republic is one point ahead of Ukraine in the index, while Algeria, Brazil, Malawi, Nepal, Niger, Thailand, and Turkey scored 34 points.
"The current results suggest that many reforms are being implemented only formally, or that their implementation is being deliberately stalled. Therefore, the drop in points in 2024 indicates that merely focusing on the programmatic implementation of Ukraine's commitments is insufficient, and that the execution of the reforms is not as high-quality as intended," Transparency International Ukraine said. In addition, due to methodological limitations, the Index results do not take into account the events of late 2024 and early 2025, many of which "continue to reinforce Ukraine's negative trend in the fight against corruption", the organisation said.
Instead, the Index's results should be seen in the context of the dynamics of the last two years. For example, Ukraine's CPI-2024 results were negatively affected by scandals over defence and energy procurement, scandals involving the MSEC, pressure on journalists and civil society activists by law enforcement agencies, etc. The results of the work of anti-corruption bodies (the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, the High Anti-Corruption Court), the adoption of the State Anti-Corruption Programme and the updating of legislation on defence procurement, the restoration of electronic declaration of public officials and other events had a positive impact.
"Ukraine's CPI–2024 result should serve as a signal to the authorities that negative trends in reducing corruption have intensified — trends that could significantly affect the country's reputation in the future. Moreover, declarative, point-based updates alone are insufficient; it is necessary to introduce systemic changes in governance. Without these changes, the situation may deteriorate further," said Andrii Borovyk, Executive Director of TI Ukraine.
Transparency International's annual Corruption Perceptions Index is based on 13 surveys conducted by international institutions and think tanks. The index measures the perception of corruption in the public sector, not the actual level of corruption. The CPI methodology has been approved by the European Commission for its robust statistical approach.