Seychelles, Cape Verde, Botswana, Rwanda, and Mauritius are the least corrupt countries in Africa, according to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International.

The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sectors are perceived to be, using a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The rankings are based on data from 13 external sources, including the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, risk management firms, and research institutions.

Seychelles ranks first in Africa and 18th worldwide, with a score of 72. It is followed by Cape Verde (35th globally), Botswana (43rd), Rwanda (43rd), Mauritius (56th), and Namibia (59th). Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Senegal share the 69th global ranking, each with a score of 45.

Only five African countries—Seychelles, Cape Verde, Botswana, Rwanda, and Mauritius—scored above 50 on the 100-point scale.

In total, 20 African countries improved their scores compared to the 2023 CPI, while 22 saw their scores drop, and 12 remained unchanged. Côte d’Ivoire made the biggest improvement, gaining five points, followed by Rwanda with a four-point increase. On the other hand, Eritrea recorded the sharpest decline, losing eight points, while Libya, South Sudan, and Egypt each dropped by five points.

Overall, Africa remains the region with the highest perceived corruption levels globally. The lowest-scoring countries are fragile states affected by conflict, including South Sudan (8 points), Somalia (9), Libya (13), Eritrea (13), and Equatorial Guinea (13).

Worldwide, Denmark remains the highest-ranked country for the seventh consecutive year, with a score of 90. It is followed by Finland (88), Singapore (84), New Zealand (83), and Luxembourg (81).

Transparency International warns that corruption remains a serious problem worldwide, with efforts to fight it losing momentum. More than two-thirds of the 180 countries assessed scored below 50, meaning they struggle with high levels of corruption. These countries are home to 6.8 billion people—85% of the world’s population.

The global average CPI score remains at 43, highlighting the urgent need for stronger anti-corruption measures.

Ranking of African Countries in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index:

1. Seychelles (18th worldwide)
2. Cape Verde (35th)
3. Botswana (43rd)
4. Rwanda (43rd)
5. Mauritius (56th)
6. Namibia (59th)
7. Benin (69th)
8. Côte d’Ivoire (69th)
9. São Tomé and Príncipe (69th)
10. Senegal (69th)
11. Ghana (80th)
12. Burkina Faso (82nd)
13. South Africa (82nd)
14. Tanzania (82nd)
15. Tunisia (92nd)
16. Zambia (92nd)
17. The Gambia (96th)
18. Ethiopia (99th)
19. Lesotho (99th)
20. Morocco (99th)
21. Algeria (107th)
22. Malawi (107th)
23. Niger (107th)
24. Sierra Leone (114th)
25. Angola (121st)
26. Kenya (121st)
27. Togo (121st)
28. Djibouti (127th)
29. Egypt (130th)
30. Mauritania (130th)
31. Guinea (133rd)
32. Eswatini (135th)
33. Gabon (135th)
34. Liberia (135th)
35. Mali (135th)
36. Cameroon (140th)
37. Madagascar (140th)
38. Nigeria (140th)
39. Uganda (140th)
40. Mozambique (146th)
41. Central African Republic (149th)
42. Republic of the Congo (151st)
43. Chad (158th)
44. Comoros (158th)
45. Guinea-Bissau (158th)
46. Zimbabwe (158th)
47. Democratic Republic of the Congo (163rd)
48. Burundi (165th)
49. Sudan (170th)
50. Equatorial Guinea (173rd)
51. Eritrea (173rd)
52. Libya (173rd)
53. Somalia (179th)
54. South Sudan (180th)