Kazakhstan Still Among the World's Most Corrupt Countries

Kazakhstan ranked 88th in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), scoring 39 out of 100 points—a record high for the country. Despite this improvement, Kazakhstan remains in the category of nations with high levels of corruption, Orda.kz reports.

Experts from Transparency International attribute this progress to increased civic engagement following the events of January 2022.

Public pressure pushed authorities to implement anti-corruption reforms and asset recovery measures.

However, deep-rooted issues persist, including a lack of government transparency, judicial dependence, and the strong influence of political elites on the economy.

The Eastern Europe and Central Asia region had an average score of 35 points, ranking among the most corrupt in the world. Within the region, Kazakhstan outperformed Uzbekistan (33), Russia (26), and Turkmenistan (18) but lagged behind Armenia (47), Moldova (42), and Georgia (53).

Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Agency highlighted the country’s progress, stating:

This is a new historical indicator achieved thanks to comprehensive measures to combat corruption. The CPI is a composite index — data from 9 different organizations are used to derive Kazakhstan’s rating. The rating is based on expert and business assessments of the perception of corruption in the public sector.

Transparency International warns that without an independent judiciary and real consequences for corrupt officials, these gains may be superficial.

The organization calls for continued reforms and stricter oversight of public spending to ensure lasting change.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov