Corruption Perceptions Index in South Korea
South Korea: Corruption Perceptions Index was 64 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Corruption Perceptions Index in South Korea, 2012–2024
Source: Transparency International (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, corruption perceptions index in South Korea stood at 64. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, corruption perceptions index in South Korea peaked at 64 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 53, in 2016.
That places South Korea 30th out of 179 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Corruption Perceptions Index in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 56 | — |
| 2013 | 55 | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 55 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 54 | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 53 | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 54 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 57 | +5.6% |
| 2019 | 59 | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 61 | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 62 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 63 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 63 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 64 | +1.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 64 is above the median for high income countries, which is 64, 1.0× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 64 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 43, 1.5× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 55.38 | 53 | 59 | 8 |
| 2020s | 62.6 | 61 | 64 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More social development data for South Korea
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,407 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 117 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (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 117 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 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 corruption perceptions index in South Korea?
- Corruption perceptions index in South Korea was 64 in 2024, according to Transparency International (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest corruption perceptions index recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 64 in 2024.
- What is the lowest corruption perceptions index recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 53 in 2016.
- How does South Korea rank for corruption perceptions index?
- South Korea ranks 30th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is corruption perceptions index rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Transparency International (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Corruption Perceptions Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
A country’s score, from 0 (most corrupt) to 100 (least corrupt), that reflects the average of expert surveys on public sector corruption, including misuse of office and bribery.