Global corruption perception: new report reveals widespread declines

Transparency International has released its most recent Corruption Perception Index (CPI), an annual assessment measuring the perceived level of public sector corruption across 180 nations and territories.

The 2025 CPI report indicates a concerning global increase in corruption, even impacting established democracies grappling with diminishing political leadership.

According to the 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from Transparency International, corruption is intensifying across the globe. This trend includes established democracies, which are increasingly facing corruption amidst a decline in effective political leadership.

The CPI evaluates 182 countries and territories, ranking them based on their perceived levels of public sector corruption. Scores range from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

The recently published ranking reveals that over two-thirds of the assessed countries scored below 50 out of 100.

Methodology for Measuring Perceived Corruption

By its very nature, corruption is inherently difficult to quantify, as most corrupt practices are illegal and thus concealed. Instead, the CPI focuses on measuring the *perception* of corruption within a state. This is the annual endeavor of the NGO Transparency International: to assess the perceived corruption levels from one country to another. The findings of the 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) study have just been released.

The Corruption Perception Index integrates data from 13 external sources, including prominent organizations such as the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, various private consulting and risk management firms, think tanks, and other relevant bodies.

Points are allocated to countries based on various indicators, such as the rate of judicial proceedings initiated against corrupt public officials, the extent of public fund misappropriation, and the quality of protection afforded to whistleblowers. After these points are distributed, Transparency International ranks countries according to their final scores.

Among the 180 countries evaluated, Denmark achieved the highest ranking with 89 points, while South Sudan and Somalia were at the bottom of the list, each scoring a mere 9 points.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s Low Ranking

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the lowest-scoring region globally, with an average CPI score of 32/100.

Only four countries within the region surpassed the 50/100 mark, and notably, none of these top performers (Seychelles, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Botswana) are francophone. The African continent exhibits significant intra-regional disparities in corruption perception.

Among francophone nations, West Africa registers an average score of 34.2/100. Senegal, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire lead this sub-region, largely attributed to their administrative reforms. This stands in stark contrast to Guinea, where Transparency International points to institutional weaknesses and a tightly controlled civic space.

The Sahel Region: A Zone of Fragility

In the Sahel, francophone countries generally show poorer results. Their scores reflect tense security and political environments, coupled with institutions weakened by the suppression of checks and balances. These conditions create fertile ground for corruption to thrive.

Burkina Faso leads the Sahelian countries, yet its score of 40 remains significantly below the global average of 50/100. For comparison, Niger scored 31, Mali 28, and Chad 22/100.

Francophone Central Africa’s Declining Integrity

Francophone Central Africa sees its average score decreasing, primarily due to ongoing conflicts in the area. A prime example is the persistent conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (20/100), where the central government no longer controls parts of its territory, which are now in the hands of armed groups. Burundi (17) also remains at the lower end of the overall ranking. Rwanda, with its 58 points out of 100, stands out as an exception in the region.

In conclusion, it’s worth noting that no francophone African country achieved 70 points out of 100, which Transparency International designates as the threshold for a zone of “high integrity.”

A Look at Europe

For comparative purposes, Germany, with 77 points, ranks tenth globally, placing it 27 positions ahead of France (66/100).

François Valérian, President of Transparency International, states: “We have existing anti-corruption laws. There are anti-corruption bodies. However, these laws are simply not enforced, and the bodies lack independence and adequate resources.”

He laments “a lack of interest from a number of governments, particularly those in the North, who believe they have already tackled corruption and see no need for further action.”

Strengthening Judicial Independence for Anti-Corruption Efforts

Transparency International’s data indicates a worrying trend: democracies, typically stronger in anti-corruption efforts than autocracies or flawed democracies, are experiencing a concerning dip in their performance. This pattern extends to countries like the United States, as well as various parts of Europe. Consequently, François Valérian calls for decisive action: “We need a judicial system that is independent from the executive branch of government, and also independent from private interests. And this judicial system, which must be sufficiently staffed and financially resourced, needs to be empowered to do its job.”

Late last year, the European Union adopted its first anti-corruption directive, aiming to harmonize criminal laws pertaining to corruption. However, it will take some time before the tangible results of these measures become apparent.