Long-term regional corruption trends for the period 2012 to 2020 for 175 countries are described in this presentation which utilises country corruption scores published by Transparency International in their 2012 and 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) reports. Trends in average global and regional CPI scores are also presented. The analysis uses the regional classifications employed by Transparency International namely Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa together with Western Europe and European Union. Additional analyses are provided for the Commonwealth of Nations (including Commonwealth Africa and Commonwealth Caribbean countries), the OECD and small island developing states. Only three of the seven regions reported overall improvements in corruption outcomes in terms of net increases in the number of countries recording higher CPI scores in 2020 compared with those recorded in 2012. While little material overall improvement in the average global CPI scores has been achieved since 2012, the average CPI score in 2020 was though, by a small margin, the highest in the period 2012-2020.

1. Corruption Perceptions Index
2020
Long-term regional trends 2012-2020
Prepared by John Leonardo, PFMConnect, January 2021

2. Introduction
• The charts included in this presentation focus on the longer
term trend in regional Corruption Perception Index (CPI)
results from 2012 to 2020
• Countries where 2012 data is unavailable have been excluded
from this analysis

3. Global results 2012-2020
• This chart shows the average CPI score recorded for all
countries each year
• While little material overall improvement in the average CPI
scores has been achieved since 2012, the average CPI score in
2020 was the highest in the period 2012-2020

5. Changes since 2012
• This chart shows the number of changes between 2012 CPI
scores and 2020 CPI scores for 175 countries assessed in the
2012 CPI
• Countries not assessed in the 2012 CPI are excluded from this
analysis
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 82
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 10
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 83

8. Africa 2012-2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI
scores and 2020 CPI scores for 53 African countries assessed
in the 2012 CPI
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 24
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 2
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 27

10. Asia Pacific 2012-2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI
scores and 2020 CPI scores for 28 Asian Pacific countries
assessed in the 2012 CPI
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 17
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 4
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 7

12. Caribbean 2012-2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI
scores and 2020 CPI scores for 12 Caribbean countries
assessed in the 2012 CPI
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 4
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 0
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 8

14. Americas 2012-2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI
scores and 2020 CPI scores for 19 Central, North and South
American countries assessed in the 2012 CPI
• The chart highlights the continued poor CPI performance of
Canada and the United States since 2012
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 5
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 1
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 13

16. Central and South America 2012-2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI
scores and 2020 CPI scores for 17 Central and South American
countries assessed in the 2012 CPI.
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 11
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 1
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 5

18. Eastern Europe and Central Asia 2012-
2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI
scores and 2020 CPI scores for 19 Eastern European and
Central Asian countries assessed in the 2012 CPI
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 12
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 1
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 6

20. Middle East and North Africa 2019-
2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI
scores and 2020 CPI scores for 18 Middle Eastern and North
African countries assessed in the 2012 CPI.
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 9
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 1
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 8

22. Western Europe and European
Union 2012-2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI
scores and 2020 CPI scores for 31 Western Europe and
European Union countries assessed in the 2012 CPI
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 14
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 2
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 15

24. OECD 2012-2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI
scores and 2020 CPI scores for 36 OECD countries assessed in
the 2012 CPI
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 13
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 3
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 20

26. Small island developing states
(SIDS) 2012-2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI scores and
2020 CPI scores for 22 SIDS assessed in the 2012 CPI
• The 22 SIDS were all UN members. (The SIDS comprise 38 UN members
and 20 non-UN members/Associate members of regional commissions).
• In spite of numerous improved scores since 2017, the recent improvement
in scores for numerous SIDS has not been sufficient to offset poor
performances during 2012-2016.
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 8
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 0
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 14

28. The Commonwealth of Nations 2012-
2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI scores and
2019 CPI scores for 41 of the 53 Commonwealth of Nations countries
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 17
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 1
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 23

30. Commonwealth of Nations: Africa
2012-2020
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI scores and
2020 CPI scores for 19 Commonwealth Africa countries
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 8
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 0
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 11

32. Commonwealth of Nations:
Caribbean 2012-2019
• This chart shows the percentage change between 2012 CPI scores and
2019 CPI scores for 8 Commonwealth Caribbean countries
• Results summary:
– CPI score increases since 2012: 3
– CPI scores unchanged since 2012: 0
– CPI score decreases since 2012: 5

34. Conclusion
• The CPI 2020 results are relatively disappointing.
• These results suggest little overall material progress has been made in
reducing corruption; this outcome is reflected in the average scores for
the years 2012-2020.
• The relatively poor performance amongst the majority of the 36 OECD
countries continues to be particularly disappointing (13 gains, 3
unchanged, 20 declines).
• The CPI 2020 results suggest a material improvement in the
implementation of effective anti-corruption policies is required in many
countries irrespective of their stage of economic development.

35. About us
• PFMConnect is a consultancy providing online support in the
fields of public finance and digital communication
• You can access our published material discussing corruption
and PFM topics on our blog http://blog-pfmconnect.com
• Please contact us at team@pfmconnect.com if you have any
queries relating to material provided in this video.