Top 20 least corrupt African countries at the end of 2024

In 2024, Sub-Saharan Africa once again recorded the lowest regional average on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released by Transparency International (TI) on Tuesday, scoring just 33 out of 100.

With 90 per cent of countries in the region scoring below 50, corruption remains a major challenge. However, some African nations have made remarkable strides in fighting corruption.

The region’s top performers include Seychelles (72), Cape Verde (62), Botswana (57), and Rwanda (57). Meanwhile, the lowest-ranking countries saw further declines: Equatorial Guinea (13), Eritrea (13), Somalia (9), and South Sudan (8).

In recent years, several African nations have demonstrated notable improvements in transparency and anti-corruption efforts.

According to the report, Seychelles, the continent’s highest scorer and the country with the largest increase globally, has improved by 20 points since 2012.

The island nation has actively prosecuted high-profile corruption cases, enhanced beneficial ownership transparency, and strengthened information exchange among law enforcement agencies. As a result, Seychelles met all requirements to be removed from the EU’s blacklist for noncompliance with international financial transparency standards.

Here are the top 20 least corrupt African countries at the end of 2024, according to the report, which ranked 180 countries and territories across the globe.

1. Seychelles
CPI score: 72
Global rank: 18th

2. Cape Verde
CPI score: 62
Global rank: 35th

3. Botswana
CPI score: 57
Global rank: 43rd

4. Rwanda
CPI score: 57
Global rank: 43rd

5. Mauritius
CPI score: 51
Global rank: 56th

6. Namibia
CPI score: 49
Global rank: 59th

7. Benin Republic
CPI score: 45
Global rank: 69th