Afghanistan jumps 24 places to 150th in global corruption index

Afghanistan has jumped as many as 24 places in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2022 compared to the previous year, Transparency International said in a report released Tuesday.

Afghanistan has scored 24 out of 100 in the new index, ranking 150th out of 180 countries. Last year, Afghanistan stood at 174th spot with a score of 16.

The Transparency International’s report said corruption was central to the failure of the international effort to establish peace and security in Afghanistan.

“It undermined the legitimacy and capability of the Afghan government, hollowed out the Afghan military, and channeled resources to and strengthened popular support for the Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan),” the report said.

“Leaders can fight corruption and promote peace all at once. Governments must open up space to include the public in decision-making – from activists and business owners to marginalized communities and young people. In democratic societies, the people can raise their voices to help root out corruption and demand a safer world for us all,” said Daniel Eriksson, Chief Executive Officer of Transparency International.

In the new ranking, Afghanistan is placed above countries including Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, North Korea, Libya, Yemen, Venezuela and Syria, but shares the sport with six other countries – Cambodia, Lebanon, Nigeria, Guatemala, Central African Republic and Tajikistan.

Denmark tops the list with a score of 90, followed by Finland, New Zealand and Norway.