Turkey ranked 101st out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2022 global corruption perception index with 36 points, marking the country’s lowest score in the last 10 years.
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) measured each country’s perceived levels of public sector corruption annually since 1995, and defined this type of corruption as, “an abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” Scores range from 0 to 100, with the former indicating “highly corrupt” and 100 “very clean”.
Corruption is both a key cause and result of the deterioration of the peace, Transparency International said in the report. “High-level corruption is closely linked to political instability, weakened institutions and – in the most extreme cases – violent conflict.”
In 2021, Turkey ranked 96th with 38 points. By losing two points and dropping five places in a year, the country now has the same score as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Peru, Panama, Kazakhstan, Ecuador and Albania.
Turkey topped its own score in the index in 2013, when it ranked 53rd with 50 points. Since then it fell behind 48 other countries in the ranking.
The lowest-performing countries on the 2022 CPI had governments that undermined the democratic process, cracked down on civic space, and restricted media freedoms.
Turkey must address the weakening effectiveness of political checks and balances to advance its democracy and rule of law, Transparency International said, noting that growing security risks and authoritarianism threaten anti-corruption efforts.
