Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under ‘A new era for European Defence and Security’ and ‘Protecting our democracy, upholding our values’.
Goal 16 calls for peaceful and inclusive societies based on respect for human rights, protection of the most vulnerable, the rule of law and good governance at all levels. It also envisions transparent, effective and accountable institutions, which promote non-discriminatory laws and policies, combat corruption, bribery and organised crime and prevent violence, terrorism and crime.
The indicator can be considered as similar to global SDG indicator 16.5.2 "Proportion of businesses that had at least one contact with a public official and that paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials, during the previous 12 months".
Corruption inflicts financial damage by lowering investment levels, hampering the fair operation of the internal market and reducing public finances. It also causes social harm as organised crime groups use corruption to commit other serious crimes, such as trafficking in drugs and human beings. As there is no meaningful way to assess absolute levels of corruption in countries or territories on the basis of hard empirical data, capturing perceptions of corruption of those in a position to offer assessments of public sector corruption is so far the most reliable method of comparing relative corruption levels across countries.
4.1. Data description
The indicator is a composite index based on a combination of surveys and assessments of corruption from 13 different sources, and scores and ranks countries based on how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived to be, with a score of 0 representing a very high level of corruption and a score of 100 representing a very clean country. The CPI includes only sources that provide a score for a set of countries/territories and that measure perceptions of corruption in the public sector. For a country/territory to be included in the ranking, it must be included in a minimum of three of the CPI’s data sources. The CPI is published by Transparency International.
4.2. Unit of measure
Score scale of 0 (highest level of perceived corruption) to 100 (lowest level of perceived corruption)
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year
4.4. Accuracy - overall
Indicator from non-ESS sources. For assessment of accuracy please refer to the original source (see link to external data source and metadata in section “Annexes”).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
Transparency International
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: Transparency International Publication
Data provider: Transparency International
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year
5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated annually.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year
5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within one year after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS
6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
The indicator as published by Eurostat covers all EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Türkiye, Russia, the United States, Japan and South Korea.
Publications by Transparency International cover most countries of the world.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS
6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years
6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series starts in 2012. Older data available from Transparency International was omitted due to limited comparability to recent data.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points
6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards the SDGs in an EU context).
The indicator is a composite index based on a combination of surveys and assessments of corruption from 13 different sources, and scores and ranks countries based on how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived to be, with a score of 0 representing a very high level of corruption and a score of 100 representing a very clean country. The CPI includes only sources that provide a score for a set of countries/territories and that measure perceptions of corruption in the public sector. For a country/territory to be included in the ranking, it must be included in a minimum of three of the CPI’s data sources. The CPI is published by Transparency International.
13 March 2025
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Calendar year
Indicator from non-ESS sources. For assessment of accuracy please refer to the original source (see link to external data source and metadata in section “Annexes”).
Score scale of 0 (highest level of perceived corruption) to 100 (lowest level of perceived corruption)
