KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Transparency International has ranked Taliban-controlled Afghanistan 165th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), three places lower than the previous year.
In its report released on Tuesday, the Berlin-based watchdog, which annually assesses perceived corruption levels worldwide, gave Afghanistan a score of 17 out of 100. The country ranked 162nd in 2023 and 150th in 2022, when it scored 24—the highest in recent years.
Denmark retained its position as the least corrupt country for the seventh consecutive year, scoring 90, followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84). At the bottom of the index, South Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela, Syria, and Yemen—countries plagued by conflict and economic crises—ranked among the most corrupt.
While the Taliban claims to have eradicated corruption, Transparency International’s findings suggest otherwise, showing Afghanistan sliding further toward the most corrupt countries.
Since their return to power, the Taliban have provided little to no details on how they allocate revenue from taxes and national resources. While they have criminalized bribery in the public sector, other forms of corruption—including the diversion of public funds and humanitarian aid, nepotism, and abuse of official powers—remain widespread.
Transparency International said its latest findings highlight corruption as a serious global problem, but noted that “change for the better is happening in many countries.”
“Research also reveals that corruption is a major threat to climate action. It hinders progress in reducing emissions and adapting to the unavoidable effects of global heating,” the watchdog added.
François Valérian, Chair of Transparency International, described corruption as an evolving “global threat” that fuels declining democracy, instability, and human rights violations.
“The international community and every nation must make tackling corruption a top and long-term priority,” he said, adding that such efforts are vital to countering authoritarianism and ensuring a “peaceful, free, and sustainable world.”
