Weekly analytics for 05 – 11 February

Corruption Perception Index 2024

Event

On February 11, Transparency International published its annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2024, where Ukraine scored 35 points. This marks a one-point decline from the previous year, causing Ukraine to drop from 104th to 105th place in the global ranking.

CPLR’s assessment 

It is important to note that the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) does not reflect the actual level of corruption in a country but rather indicates how it is perceived by business representatives and experts worldwide. 

Transparency International has been publishing the CPI annually since 1995, with Ukraine joining the assessment in 1998. In 2012, the index methodology was updated, and this version remains in use today with minor refinements. Under this revised methodology, in 2012, Ukraine ranked 144th out of 176 countries, scoring 26 index points.

Since the adoption of the updated methodology, Ukraine has seen declines in its CPI score on three other occasions – 2013, 2019, and 2021. However, these fluctuations do not yet indicate a consistent downward trend. Furthermore, Transparency International 

Throughout the period of assessment under the updated methodology, Ukraine declines in its score three times: in 2013, 2019, and 2021. Therefore, it is too early to assume a consistent downward trend. Furthermore, Transparency International itself has noted that adjustments to this year’s methodology may have caused technical variations in some countries’ scores.

A key aspect of the CPI methodology is that it draws from 13 distinct data sources, each selected based on established criteria and then standardized. However, these sources cover study periods ranging from 2021 to 2024, meaning they may not fully reflect the most recent events and trends influencing the country’s anti-corruption climate.

Ukraine’s CPI score was primarily affected by isolated corruption scandals that garnered widespread media attention but do not indicate a systemic problem. In contrast, the factors contributing positively were systemic measures, whose full impact will become more apparent over time.

Since 2012, Ukraine has demonstrated a consistent upward trajectory in the Corruption Perception Index. This progress suggests that despite minor setbacks in anti-corruption reforms and certain resistance from corrupt actors, Ukraine continues to make efforts to reduce corruption and implement meaningful reforms.

Notably, an annual standardized survey of citizens and businesses conducted by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention shows that the perceived corruption prevalence index has remained largely unchanged over the past five years.

Since both indices reflect perceptions rather than actual corruption levels, it may be assumed that they are influenced by highly expressive yet analytically unverified public statements about alleged widespread corruption within a specific institution, sector, or the state as a whole.

Therefore, to improve Ukraine’s position in the CPI, it is crucial not only to implement systemic and comprehensive anti-corruption measures – such as developing and implementing a new Anti-Corruption Strategy, but also to be mindful of public statements and avoid oversimplified solutions.