The UK has recently achieved its lowest-ever ranking on the International Corruption Perceptions Index, which assesses countries based on analysts' perceptions of potential corruption in their public services.
UK Falling to its Lowest Score on Global Index
In 2022, the UK dropped from its 18th position among 181 countries to 20th in 2023, signifying a concerning decline in its anti-corruption ranking. According to research, this places Britain behind countries like Hong Kong and Uruguay in terms of perceived corruption.
This decline in ranking aligns with concerns regarding potential corruption in the allocation of PPE contracts during the pandemic, as highlighted in recent research. The UK maintained a position between eighth and eleventh in global transparency rankings for nearly a decade, from 2012 to 2021. However, in 2022, it slipped to 18th place and further to 20th in 2023.
UK's Transparency International chief executive, Daniel Bruce, stated that this ranking should act like a "Wake-up call for government."
“The continued fall in the UK’s score shows a country heading in the wrong direction. It’s clear that business leaders and other experts are more concerned than ever about political corruption and the abuse of public office in the UK,” Bruce added.
He also emphasized, “We need urgent action from ministers – not just words – to restore much-needed confidence in the integrity of political and public life.”
The UK received a score of 71 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index, with lower scores indicating higher levels of corruption. This marks the UK's lowest-ever ranking on the index, representing a decline of 2 points in 2022 and 9 points since 2018.
The UK's Placement Among Countries with Corruption Issues
According to the research, this marks the most significant five-year decline experienced by Britain compared to other Western European nations.
It is crucial to emphasize that this score is derived from data collected from eight unconventional sources, including organizations like the World Economic Forum and the Economist. Transparency International reported that experts and business executives were surveyed to gauge their views on abuses of public office for private gain and bribery in the UK.
The Anti-corruption charity highlighted the unethical acts related to the awarding of PPE contracts during the pandemic. Additionally, there is concern about the resignation of both the UK government's anti-corruption champion and independent advisor on ministerial interests.
It later added: “The data shows that while perceptions of bribery generally are improving, there are growing concerns over cronyism and patronage in politics, and its effect on the management of public funds.”
Among other countries, Denmark holds the top spot as the least corrupt country, followed by Finland and New Zealand. On the opposite end of the spectrum, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Somalia are ranked at the bottom for having the highest corruption rates in the world.