Global corruption perception index reveals concerning declines

The 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by Transparency International indicates a global escalation in corruption levels. This trend is observed even within established democracies, which are experiencing increased corruption amidst waning political leadership.

The CPI evaluates 182 nations and territories, assigning a score from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean) based on the perceived extent of public sector corruption.

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

Understanding the Methodology Behind Corruption Perception

Accurately quantifying corruption presents a significant challenge, as many corrupt practices are inherently illicit and therefore concealed. However, it is feasible to gauge a nation’s corruption levels through public perception. This is precisely what the NGO Transparency International endeavors to measure annually: the *perception* of corruption from one country to another. The findings for the 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) have recently been released.

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

It assigns scores to countries based on factors such as the rate of legal proceedings against corrupt officials, the prevalence of public fund embezzlement, and the robustness of whistleblower protection. Once these points are tallied, Transparency International ranks nations according to their scores.

Out of the 180 countries assessed, Denmark achieved the highest ranking with 89 points, while South Sudan and Somalia were at the bottom, each scoring 9 points.

Sub-Saharan Africa Faces Significant Corruption Challenges

Sub-Saharan Africa is identified as the world’s most poorly ranked region, with an average score of 32 out of 100.

Only four countries within this region managed to surpass a score of 50/100: Seychelles, Cape Verde, Rwanda, and Botswana. Notably, no Francophone country is listed among these top performers. The African continent exhibits substantial variations in corruption perception within its different regions.

Among Francophone nations, West Africa registers an average score of 34.2/100. Senegal, Bénin, and Côte d’Ivoire lead this sub-region, largely attributable to administrative reforms. In contrast, Guinea’s institutional weaknesses and tightly controlled civic space are highlighted by Transparency International as significant concerns.

The Fragile Sahel Region’s Corruption Landscape

In the Sahel, Francophone countries report even lower scores. These figures reflect volatile security and political environments, coupled with institutions weakened by the suppression of checks and balances. Such conditions are highly conducive to increased corruption.

Burkina Faso leads the Sahelian countries with a score of 40, still well below the 50/100 average threshold. For context, Niger scored 31, Mali 28, and Chad 22 out of 100.

Francophone Central Africa’s Declining Scores

Francophone Central Africa sees a decrease in its average score, largely due to ongoing conflicts in the area. This includes the persistent conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (20/100), where the central government no longer controls significant portions of territory, now held by armed groups. Burundi (17) also remains at the lower end of the overall ranking. Rwanda, however, stands out as an exception with 58 points out of 100.

In summary, no Francophone African country reaches the 70-point mark, which Transparency International designates as the threshold for a zone of “high integrity.”

Corruption Perception in Europe

For comparison, Germany ranks tenth globally with 77 points, placing it 27 positions ahead of France, which scored 66 out of 100.

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

He expresses regret over “a lack of interest from several governments, particularly those in the North, who believe they have already addressed corruption and that further action is unnecessary.”

The Imperative for Independent Justice Systems

Transparency International’s data highlights a troubling trend: democracies, typically more effective in combating corruption than autocracies or flawed democracies, are experiencing a worrying decline in their performance. This pattern extends to countries like the United States and various parts of Europe. Consequently, François Valérian advocates for concrete actions: “We require a judicial system that operates independently from the executive branch of government, and also from private interests. Furthermore, this judicial system, which must be adequately staffed and financially resourced, needs to fulfill its mandate.”

Late last year, the European Union enacted its inaugural anti-corruption directive, aiming to standardize criminal laws pertaining to corruption.

However, it will be some time before the tangible effects of these measures become apparent.