Public Sector Corruption Index in Australia
Australia: Public Sector Corruption Index was 0.02 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
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.
Public Sector Corruption Index in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.142 | — |
| 1790 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.643 | +352.8% |
| 1794 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.016 | -97.5% |
| 1811 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.01 | -37.5% |
| 1951 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.026 | +160.0% |
| 2014 | 0.021 | -19.2% |
| 2015 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.016 | -23.8% |
| 2018 | 0.02 | +25.0% |
| 2019 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.02 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.093, 22% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.02 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.489, 4% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
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
- 163 Luxembourg 0.021 compare
- 164 Ireland 0.02 compare
- 166 France 0.019 compare
- 166 Sweden 0.019 compare
More social development data for Australia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 33,415 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 41 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 41 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0012 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
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
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).