Corruption in Uzbekistan: Transparency international reports decline

Uzbekistan has ranked 121st out of 180 countries in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, according to Transparency International.

The country scored 32 out of 100 points in the index, placing it alongside Angola, Ecuador, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Togo. In comparison, Uzbekistan scored 33 points in 2023, but its ranking has dropped this year.

Corruption Index Scores of Central Asian Countries:

• Tajikistan – 19 points (164th place);
• Kyrgyzstan – 25 points (146th place);
• Uzbekistan – 32 points (121st place);
• Kazakhstan – 40 points (88th place).

Among these, only Kazakhstan improved by one point, while the others, including Uzbekistan, lost one point. Similar declines were observed in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and several Eastern European countries. Meanwhile, Belarus and Russia saw a drop of four points compared to 2023.

Top Performers in the Region:

• Georgia – 53 points (53rd place);
• Armenia – 47 points (63rd place);
• Montenegro – 46 points (65th place).

Globally, Denmark leads the rankings with 90 points, followed by Finland (88 points) and Singapore (84 points). At the bottom of the list, South Sudan recorded the lowest score of 8 points.

The Corruption Perceptions Index assesses corruption levels in the public sector across 180 countries, using a scale from 0 to 100, where:

• 0 points indicate a high level of corruption;
• 100 points indicate a corruption-free system.

Since 2012, only 32 countries have significantly reduced corruption, while 148 countries have either stagnated or worsened. The global average score remains at 43 points, with most countries falling below 50, indicating widespread corruption.

“The results of this year’s Corruption Perceptions Index show that the global fight against corruption must now be accompanied by real action. If serious measures are not taken, this threat may deepen,” said François Valérian, chairman of Transparency International.

Additionally, Uzbekistan was recently ranked 121st out of 147 countries in the International Crime and Security Index. The country’s crime rate was recorded at 27.9, while its security rate stood at 72.1—making it the most secure country in Central Asia. Kazakhstan ranked 77th, Kyrgyzstan 39th, and Afghanistan 4th, while data on Tajikistan and Turkmenistan was not provided.