Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025

Transparency International on 10 February 2026 released its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), revealing persistent challenges in public sector integrity worldwide, with weak institutions and democratic backsliding particularly affecting Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The annual CPI ranks 182 countries and territories by perceived levels of public sector corruption on a 0–100 scale (0 = highly corrupt, 100 = very clean).

Key Global Findings

• The global average score fell to 42, a more than decade-low, indicating widespread corruption issues and stagnant progress overall.
• Over two-thirds of countries (122 out of 182) score below 50, signalling serious corruption concerns in most parts of the world.
• The CPI is based on data from 13 independent sources including expert assessments and business surveys, making it the leading global indicator of perceived public sector corruption.

Top and Bottom Performers

• Denmark topped the 2025 index with a score of 89, retaining its position as the least corrupt country globally for the eighth consecutive year. It was followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84).
• At the opposite end, South Sudan and Somalia both scored 9, tying for the lowest positions, with Venezuela close behind at 10.

Regional Spotlight: Eastern Europe & Central Asia

• Eastern Europe and Central Asia scored just 34 out of 100, one of the lowest regional averages worldwide, underscoring weak institutions, democratic backsliding and shrinking civic space that facilitate corruption.
• Within this region, nations such as Turkmenistan (17), Tajikistan (19) and Russia (22) ranked among the lowest, highlighting the challenges that restricted oversight and limited transparency pose.

India’s Performance

• India ranked 91st out of 182 countries in the 2025 CPI, scoring 39 out of 100, marking a slight improvement from its 96th position the previous year.
• India’s score remains below the global average, reflecting ongoing concerns over perceived corruption in its public sector.
• The report also noted that countries with lower CPI scores tend to pose higher risks for journalists reporting on corruption, with India among such nations.