Finland has once again secured its position as the second least corrupt country in the world, according to Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Scoring 88 out of 100 points, Finland improved by one point from 2023, while Denmark remains the global leader with 90 points. However, while these numbers suggest a low level of corruption, experts warn that the index doesn’t tell the whole story.

What the Index Measures – and What It Doesn’t

Transparency International’s CPI ranks 180 countries based on perceived levels of corruption in the public sector, using data from 13 independent sources. While Finland consistently scores among the best, Ilkka Penttinen Fouto, chair of Transparency International Finland, cautions that the index does not capture deeper structural corruption issues.

Unlike many countries, Finland has little to no “street-level corruption”, meaning bribery of police or public officials is rare. However, “good old boys’ networks,” conflicts of interest, and lack of transparency in business and political decision-making pose risks that the index doesn’t fully reflect.

Hidden Corruption Risks in Finland

Despite Finland’s high ranking, certain vulnerabilities remain:

• Foreign Influence in Politics: Finnish law has loopholes that allow foreign entities to influence political parties and elections through indirect financing.
• Defense and Security Transparency: Finland is not among the top-ranked countries when it comes to oversight of military spending and security contracts.
• Privatization Risks: When public services are privatized, lack of oversight can lead to corruption and favoritism in awarding contracts.
• Lack of Prosecution in Foreign Trade: Finland has never prosecuted any cases related to bribery in international trade, raising concerns about the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures.

How Does Finland Compare to Sweden?

Sweden, which once consistently ranked among the top five, has been steadily falling in recent years. In 2024, Sweden dropped to 8th place with a score of 80 points—a loss of 9 points since 2015. The primary concern in Sweden is organized crime infiltrating key institutions, leading to increased extortion, fraud, and misuse of public funds.

While Finland does not yet face the same level of criminal influence as Sweden, experts urge the country to remain proactive, particularly as small corruption cases in business, immigration, and government contracts have surfaced in recent years.

The Global Corruption Landscape

Finland’s position remains strong, but globally, the situation is not improving. More than two-thirds of countries scored below 50, indicating serious corruption problems. Among major nations, the rankings are:

• USA – 65 points
• Germany – 75 points (declining trend)
• France – 67 points
• Russia – 22 points (one of the most corrupt in Europe)
• South Sudan – 8 points (ranked the most corrupt country in the world)

Is Finland Truly Corruption-Free?

While Finland’s high ranking is a sign of strong institutions, the real challenge is ensuring that corruption risks do not go unnoticed. The country must remain vigilant in areas like foreign political influence, privatization, and transparency in defense spending.

With corruption becoming more sophisticated globally, a high rank today does not guarantee immunity from problems in the future.