Indonesia’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score has climbed to 37 in 2024, marking a three-point improvement from the previous year and its highest level in recent history. While still ranked 99th globally, the uptick signals incremental progress in governance and institutional integrity. In a region where most countries saw declines, Indonesia’s score stands out as a cautious step forward in the fight against corruption.
Key Facts & Background:
- Transparency International Indonesia (TII) reported Indonesia’s CPI score at 37 in 2024, up from 34 in 2022 and 2023.
- Indonesia ranks 99th out of 180 countries, sharing its score with Argentina, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Lesotho.
- CPI scores range from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), based on expert assessments and institutional data.
- In ASEAN, Indonesia trails behind Singapore (84), Malaysia (50), Timor Leste (44), and Vietnam (40), but surpasses Thailand (34), Laos (33), the Philippines (33), Cambodia (21), and Myanmar (16).
- Globally, Denmark leads with a score of 90, followed by Finland (88), Singapore (84), and New Zealand (83).
- The CPI draws from nine data sources, including the World Economic Forum EOS (61), IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook (45), and PERC Asia Risk Guide (38), among others.
- Key CPI indicators include bribery, misuse of public funds, abuse of office, government capacity to enforce integrity, and legal protections for whistleblowers and journalists.
- CPI does not measure citizen experiences, tax fraud, illicit financial flows, money laundering, or informal economies.
Strategic Implications:
1. Incremental Progress, Not Structural Breakthrough
Indonesia’s three-point CPI improvement reflects modest gains in perceived governance quality, but not yet a systemic transformation. The score remains below the global average and far from regional leaders like Singapore. While the rise is encouraging, it underscores the need for deeper institutional reforms, particularly in law enforcement, judicial independence, and political accountability.
2. Regional Positioning and ASEAN Dynamics
Indonesia’s CPI score now places it ahead of Thailand, the Philippines, and several other ASEAN peers, many of which saw declines in 2024. This shift enhances Indonesia’s relative standing in Southeast Asia and may bolster its credibility in regional forums. However, the overall downward trend in ASEAN highlights shared vulnerabilities in democratic backsliding, opaque governance, and weak anti-corruption enforcement.
3. Data Source Volatility and Measurement Complexity
The CPI’s reliance on diverse data sources introduces variability in scoring. For instance, the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey (EOS) returned after a two-year absence with a high score of 61, while the Global Insight Country Risk Ratings dropped sharply by 15 points. These fluctuations suggest that perception-based indices are sensitive to methodological changes and external events, requiring cautious interpretation.
4. Governance Reform and Policy Signaling
The CPI score can serve as a policy signal for both domestic and international stakeholders. For the Indonesian government, it offers a benchmark to assess reform progress and communicate commitment to transparency. For investors and multilateral institutions, CPI trends influence risk assessments, aid allocation, and partnership decisions. Sustained improvement could unlock greater trust and economic opportunity.
5. Civil Society and Media Resilience
Legal protections for whistleblowers, journalists, and investigators are key CPI indicators—and areas where Indonesia has faced persistent challenges. Strengthening these safeguards is essential not only for CPI improvement but for democratic resilience. Civil society’s role in exposing corruption and demanding accountability remains vital, especially in an era of digital misinformation and shrinking civic space.
6. Long-Term Outlook: From Perception to Performance
While CPI measures perception, it often correlates with real-world governance outcomes. Indonesia’s path forward depends on translating perception gains into institutional performance—through judicial reform, procurement transparency, and political integrity. A sustained upward trajectory in CPI could reinforce Indonesia’s position as a rising middle power with credible governance credentials.