What is executive corruption index in South Africa?

Executive corruption index in South Africa was 0.59 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest executive corruption index recorded in South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 0.674 in 2017.

What is the lowest executive corruption index recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 0.427 in 1994.

How does South Africa rank for executive corruption index?

South Africa ranks 73rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is executive corruption index rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this South Africa data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Executive Corruption Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Executive Corruption Index in South Africa

Name: Executive Corruption Index in South Africa
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Africa: Executive Corruption Index was 0.59 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.59

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

73rd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.674

in 2017

All-time low

0.427

in 1994

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Executive Corruption Index in South Africa, 1900–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for executive corruption index in South Africa is 0.59, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 9.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, executive corruption index in South Africa peaked at 0.674 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.427, in 1994.

South Africa ranks 73rd of 176 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 126 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.446	0.446	0.446	10
1910s	0.446	0.446	0.446	10
1920s	0.446	0.446	0.446	10
1930s	0.446	0.446	0.446	10
1940s	0.446	0.446	0.446	10
1950s	0.446	0.446	0.446	10
1960s	0.446	0.446	0.446	10
1970s	0.4425	0.441	0.446	10
1980s	0.441	0.441	0.441	10
1990s	0.4631	0.427	0.488	10
2000s	0.5176	0.488	0.584	10
2010s	0.6341	0.613	0.674	10
2020s	0.5662	0.504	0.634	6

Countries ranked near South Africa

70 Egypt 0.605 compare
71 Malawi 0.604 compare
72 Mongolia 0.601 compare
74 Algeria 0.572 compare
75 Cote d'Ivoire 0.557 compare
76 Mexico 0.55 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for South Africa

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 55,177 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 1,319 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.743 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.837 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.87 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.743 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.47 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.633 (2025)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is executive corruption index in South Africa?: Executive corruption index in South Africa was 0.59 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest executive corruption index recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 0.674 in 2017.
What is the lowest executive corruption index recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 0.427 in 1994.
How does South Africa rank for executive corruption index?: South Africa ranks 73rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is executive corruption index rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Executive Corruption Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Executive Corruption Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 25,488 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Data by V-Dem. Expert estimates of the extent to which high-ranking members of the executive, such as the head of government or cabinet ministers, engage in bribery and theft. The index ranges from 0 to 1 (highly corrupt).