According to the results of a survey conducted on behalf of the NABU in 2024 (which included 2,488 interviews with citizens and 1,206 with business representatives), Ukrainians consider corruption to be one of the top five main problems facing Ukraine. It ranks second in the list after the armed aggression from the Russian Federation.
"Initiators of corrupt practices were 9.2% of the Ukrainian population and 4% of business representatives. At the same time, 18.3% of the population and 11.6% of businesses were involved in corrupt relationships due to demands from representatives of government bodies or organizations for unofficial payments or services in relevant areas," the document states.
The report notes that changes in corruption levels across various sectors were also recorded: in education and healthcare, the levels decreased, while in the field of humanitarian aid, the number of cases where officials were the initiators of corrupt violations increased.
12.3% of the population are willing to report corruption (this figure has risen by 2.1 percentage points compared to last year), while among entrepreneurs, this figure stands at 21.3% (the number of business representatives willing to report corruption has decreased compared to previous years; from 2020 to 2023, this figure was at 26–27%).
"According to the assessment of the population's experience with corruption, those who receive services in the construction and land relations sectors have a higher chance of encountering corruption. A high level of corruption has also been recorded in the fields of healthcare, law enforcement activities, and service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as in higher education institutions and when obtaining services for connecting/maintaining electricity, gas, and water supply and drainage systems. From a business perspective, customs has held the top position in the ranking of the most corrupt sectors for the fourth consecutive year, with electricity, gas, and water supply, law enforcement agencies, and the construction and land relations sectors also being among the "leaders," as noted in the report.
According to the head of the National Agency, Viktor Pavlushchik, the high perception of corruption is not only characteristic of Ukraine. According to the European Commission, as emphasized by the NABU, on average, seven out of ten Europeans consider corruption to be widespread in their countries, and this number has been increasing lately. In countries such as Malta, Cyprus, Portugal, Croatia, and Greece, the percentage of the population that views their country as corrupt is even higher than in Ukraine.
"Along with the new corruption challenges brought by the war, the full-scale invasion has also led to significant changes in citizens' attitudes towards corruption. We now have the highest percentage in history of Ukrainians—58% compared to 43% in 2017—who have a negative view of corrupt practices and choose a denunciatory model of behavior. The share of those reporting corruption to competent authorities is also at a record high: 17.2% of business representatives and 9.7% of the population. These are extremely important shifts, as in 2020 the share of those reporting corruption among the population was only 3.3%. This data indicates that Ukrainians do not tolerate corruption not just in words, but also in practice," said Pavlushchik.
The head of the National Agency added that the data from this research will be used in the development of the next anti-corruption strategy for 2026–2030.