Corruption Perceptions Index in South Africa
South Africa: Corruption Perceptions Index was 41 in 2024. ▬ Flat
Corruption Perceptions Index in South Africa, 2012–2024
Source: Transparency International (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 41 for corruption perceptions index in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, corruption perceptions index in South Africa peaked at 45 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 41, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 81st of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Corruption Perceptions Index in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 43 | — |
| 2013 | 42 | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 44 | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 44 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 45 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 43 | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 43 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 44 | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 44 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 44 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 43 | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 41 | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 41 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 41 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 37, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 41 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 43.5 | 42 | 45 | 8 |
| 2020s | 42.6 | 41 | 44 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More social development data for South Africa
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 55,177 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (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 1,319 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 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 Africa?
- Corruption perceptions index in South Africa was 41 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 Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 45 in 2016.
- What is the lowest corruption perceptions index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 41 in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for corruption perceptions index?
- South Africa ranks 81st out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is corruption perceptions index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
Download this data
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.