Public Sector Corruption Index in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Public Sector Corruption Index was 0.018 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
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.
Public Sector Corruption Index in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.445 | — |
| 1790 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.163 | -63.4% |
| 1852 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.014 | -91.4% |
| 1871 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.008 | -42.9% |
| 1918 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.019 | +137.5% |
| 1971 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.013 | -31.6% |
| 2018 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.018 | +38.5% |
| 2021 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.018 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.093, 19% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.018 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.1945, 9% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
More social development data for United Kingdom
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 581,072 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 517 (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 517 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0084 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 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
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).