What is public sector corruption index in Australia?

Public sector corruption index in Australia was 0.02 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest public sector corruption index recorded in Australia?

The highest recorded value was 0.643 in 1793.

What is the lowest public sector corruption index recorded in Australia?

The lowest recorded value was 0.01 in 1950.

How does Australia rank for public sector corruption index?

Australia ranks 164th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is public sector corruption index rising or falling in Australia?

Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Australia data come from?

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

Public Sector Corruption Index in Australia

Name: Public Sector Corruption Index in Australia
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Australia: Public Sector Corruption Index was 0.02 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.02

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

164th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.643

in 1793

All-time low

0.01

in 1950

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Public Sector Corruption Index in Australia, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

Australia recorded 0.02 for public sector corruption index in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, public sector corruption index in Australia peaked at 0.643 in 1793 and was at its lowest, 0.01, in 1950.

Australia ranks 164th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.142	0.142	0.142	1
1790s	0.4927	0.142	0.643	10
1800s	0.643	0.643	0.643	10
1810s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1820s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1830s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1840s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1850s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1860s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1870s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1880s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1890s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1900s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1910s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1920s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1930s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1940s	0.016	0.016	0.016	10
1950s	0.01	0.01	0.01	10
1960s	0.01	0.01	0.01	10
1970s	0.01	0.01	0.01	10
1980s	0.01	0.01	0.01	10
1990s	0.01	0.01	0.01	10
2000s	0.01	0.01	0.01	10
2010s	0.0175	0.01	0.026	10
2020s	0.02	0.02	0.02	6

Countries ranked near Australia

161 United States 0.029 compare
162 Netherlands 0.023 compare
166 France 0.019 compare
166 Sweden 0.019 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Australia

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 33,415 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 41 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.844 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.915 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.876 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.844 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.648 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.793 (2025)

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is public sector corruption index in Australia?: Public sector corruption index in Australia was 0.02 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest public sector corruption index recorded in Australia?: The highest recorded value was 0.643 in 1793.
What is the lowest public sector corruption index recorded in Australia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.01 in 1950.
How does Australia rank for public sector corruption index?: Australia ranks 164th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is public sector corruption index rising or falling in Australia?: Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Public Sector Corruption Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Public Sector Corruption Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 25,541 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Data by V-Dem. Expert estimates of the extent to which public sector employees engage in bribery and theft. The index ranges from 0 to 1 (highly corrupt).