According to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International, Georgia’s score remains unchanged at 53. On a scale of 100 points 53 should be considered average. It is also the lowest score for Georgia since 2015.

This result indicates that petty bribery is not widespread in Georgia, although no specific reforms have been implemented either that would be considered a step forward in terms of combating low-level corruption.

Georgia continues to be one of the leading countries in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region in terms of eliminating low-level corruption, which indicates the effectiveness of reforms carried out years ago to combat corruption and improve access to public services.

Important to note is that CPI does not measure more complex forms of corruption such as state capture and kleptocracy, which are the main challenges in terms of corruption for Georgia.

Of course, the absence of low-level corruption does not mean that the country has a high level of democracy and that all institutions are functioning properly. In fact, the return of petty bribery is quite possible if systemic reforms are not carried out to build an anti-corruption system and independent institutions, and if a favorable environment is not created for civil society and media.

According to analysis accompanying CPI 2024: 

“Due to its [CPI’s] limited scope, issues like democratic backsliding and restrictions on civil liberties are not accounted for in the scores… Some governments have misused the results to create a distorted narrative. In Georgia, for example, the government has failed to improve its CPI score since 2012 but continues to tout the country’s performance to obscure serious attacks on democratic processes, rule of law and civil liberties.

Transparency International's previous CPI analyses highlighted state capture and the rise of kleptocratic practices as key corruption-related challenges in the country.“

About the CPI 

The Corruption Perception Index is traditionally conducted in 180 countries. Countries are evaluated using a 100-point system, where 100 is a positive result and 0 is a negative result.

Georgia’s score in CPI 2024 is based on the following studies: Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index, World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, Global Insight’s Country Risk Rating, Freedom House’s Nations in Transit, Varieties of Democracy Project, World Economic Forum EOS.