TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has ranked as the 25th least corrupt country in the world, its highest rating to date.

Transparency International Tuesday released its 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), where Taiwan retained its 2023 score of 67 points, with 0 meaning highly corrupt and 100 meaning very clean. Taiwan's Agency Against Corruption said Tuesday that Taiwan's ranking rose from 28th to 25th, surpassing 86% of the 180 countries and regions assessed worldwide.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Taiwan ranks 7th among 31 evaluated countries and regions, just behind Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Bhutan, and Japan. In East Asia, Taiwan is still second only to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. 

Transparency International Taiwan said Taiwan's ranking increase this time was due to the decline in scores in Austria, France, and the US. However, it pointed out that the score has dropped from 68 points in 2022 to 67 points for two consecutive years, which also shows that there is “no honeymoon period” for the current government's anti-corruption efforts, and work needs to be done.

In addition, Denmark, with a score of 90, has once again been ranked the least corrupt country in the world. Finland came in second place with 88 points, Singapore was third with 84 points, and New Zealand ranked fourth with 83 points. 

Luxembourg, Norway, and Switzerland are tied for fifth place with a score of 81. On the other hand, Syria at 177th (12 points), Venezuela at 178th (10 points), Somalia at 179th (9 points), and South Sudan at 180th (8 points) are ranked as the most corrupt.