What is public sector corruption index in United Kingdom?

Public sector corruption index in United Kingdom was 0.018 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest public sector corruption index recorded in United Kingdom?

The highest recorded value was 0.445 in 1789.

What is the lowest public sector corruption index recorded in United Kingdom?

The lowest recorded value was 0.008 in 1917.

How does United Kingdom rank for public sector corruption index?

United Kingdom ranks 168th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is public sector corruption index rising or falling in United Kingdom?

Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom

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

United Kingdom: Public Sector Corruption Index was 0.018 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.018

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

168th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.445

in 1789

All-time low

0.008

in 1917

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Public Sector Corruption Index in United Kingdom, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

United Kingdom recorded 0.018 for public sector corruption index in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, public sector corruption index in United Kingdom peaked at 0.445 in 1789 and was at its lowest, 0.008, in 1917.

United Kingdom ranks 168th 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	0.445	0.445	0.445	1
1790s	0.445	0.445	0.445	10
1800s	0.445	0.445	0.445	10
1810s	0.445	0.445	0.445	10
1820s	0.445	0.445	0.445	10
1830s	0.445	0.445	0.445	10
1840s	0.445	0.445	0.445	10
1850s	0.1912	0.163	0.445	10
1860s	0.163	0.163	0.163	10
1870s	0.014	0.014	0.014	10
1880s	0.014	0.014	0.014	10
1890s	0.014	0.014	0.014	10
1900s	0.014	0.014	0.014	10
1910s	0.0122	0.008	0.014	10
1920s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1930s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1940s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1950s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1960s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1970s	0.019	0.019	0.019	10
1980s	0.019	0.019	0.019	10
1990s	0.019	0.019	0.019	10
2000s	0.019	0.019	0.019	10
2010s	0.0172	0.013	0.019	10
2020s	0.018	0.018	0.018	6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

166 France 0.019 compare
166 Sweden 0.019 compare
169 Germany 0.013 compare
170 Norway 0.012 compare
171 Iceland 0.011 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for United Kingdom

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 581,072 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 517 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.772 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.833 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.859 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.772 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.533 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.689 (2025)

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is public sector corruption index in United Kingdom?: Public sector corruption index in United Kingdom was 0.018 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest public sector corruption index recorded in United Kingdom?: The highest recorded value was 0.445 in 1789.
What is the lowest public sector corruption index recorded in United Kingdom?: The lowest recorded value was 0.008 in 1917.
How does United Kingdom rank for public sector corruption index?: United Kingdom ranks 168th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is public sector corruption index rising or falling in United Kingdom?: Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom 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).