Transparency International says the average global score in its report is at its lowest level in more than a decade.
An anti-corruption watchdog has warned of worsening corruption in democracies around the world in its latest report, with the United States’ score sliding to its lowest level, raising concerns about developments in the US and the impact of its funding cuts around the world.
Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) said on Tuesday that the average global score in its 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) reached 42 on a scale of zero to 100, the lowest in more than a decade.
Recommended Stories
List of 3 itemsEnd of the list
The group’s index assigns a score between zero (very corrupt) and 100 (very clean), based on data reflecting the assessments of experts and executives.
Since returning to the White House early last year, US President Donald Trump has upended domestic and foreign policy while increasing pressure on institutions from universities to the Federal Reserve – the US central bank.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is is currently being investigated from the Department of Justice (DOJ) after resisting pressure from Trump to lower interest rates.
TI raised concerns about “measures that target independent voices and undermine the independence of the judiciary” in the US.
“The temporary freeze and weakening of enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act signals tolerance for corrupt business practices,” it said.
US ranking falls
The Trump administration’s cuts in foreign aid have also “weakened global anti-corruption efforts,” it said.
The U.S. CPI score has fallen to 64 from 65 in 2024, with the report noting that “the political climate has been deteriorating for more than a decade.” There has been a decline of 10 points over the last 10 years.
The report also states: “The vast majority of countries are failing to control corruption,” with 122 out of 180 countries recording a score below 50.
However, 31 countries improved significantly, including Estonia (76 points), the Seychelles (68) and South Korea (63).
The US case highlights a trend in which democracies are experiencing a “declining performance” in fighting corruption, the report said, a phenomenon also seen in the UK and France.
Although these countries still top the index, “the risk of corruption has increased” as independent controls weaken, legal loopholes exist and enforcement is weak.
“Several have also experienced strains on their democracies, including political polarization and the growing influence of private money in decision-making,” the report said.
The worst performing EU countries
The worst performing countries in the European Union were Bulgaria and Hungary, both scoring just 40 points.
According to the report, Hungarian nationalist leader Viktor Orban’s government has been in power since 2010 and faces a tough fight for power Re-election in April“has systematically weakened the rule of law, civic space and electoral integrity for over 10 years.”
“This allows impunity in the funneling of billions of dollars – including from European Union funds – to groups of cronies through dirty public contracts and other methods,” the report says.
For the eighth consecutive year, the highest ranked country in the index was Denmark with a score of 89, followed by Finland and Singapore. South Sudan and Somalia were at the bottom with nine points each, followed by Venezuela.
Among the more positive progress reports in the report is Ukraine with 36 points.
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government is facing widespread public anger over corruption allegations against people close to him, even though the country has been at war with Russia for nearly four years.
However, the watchdog noted that “the fact that these and many other scandals are being exposed… shows that Ukraine’s new anti-corruption architecture is making a difference.”
She welcomed the “mobilization of civil society” last year that led Zelensky to back down and limit the independence of anti-corruption authorities.
