Nepal’s poor corruption record isn’t improving, says perception indices

In a national representative 'Survey of the Nepali People in 2022' by Kathmandu University, Interdisciplinary Analysts, and The Asia Foundation, around 40% of the total respondents (7,056) across the seven provinces consider ‘increasing corruption to be Nepal’s most serious problem’ and increasing inflation (28.6%) as another pressing problem.

According to respondents, they exchanged bribes to obtain land, vehicle, and banking-related services, manage various administrative documents, avail service from police and court, for employment search, receive health service, and obtain admission to school or university.

The problem of corruption is more acute in Madhesh province and least in Karnali province, shows the study.

Now, a global macro Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2022 released by Transparency International reports that Nepal has a considerably higher level of corruption.

Nepal scored 34 out of 100 on the CPI scale, lower than the global average of 43. The countries below the score of 50 are deemed to have a considerably higher level of corruption.

CPI evaluates how corrupt each country’s public sector is based on the opinions of experts and business people.

According to experts, lack of accountability is the primary cause of corruption in Nepal.

The report points out corruption as a threat to global security, and countries with less corruption play a role in this.

“For decades, they have welcomed dirty money from abroad, allowing kleptocrats to increase their wealth, power, and geopolitical ambitions.", says CPI.