Pakistan recorded a marginal improvement in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, with its score rising from 27 to 28, according to the report released on Tuesday.
Despite the slight gain in score, Pakistan’s ranking slipped by one place, moving to 136 out of 182 countries and territories, compared with 135 out of 180 in the 2024 index.
Chairman of Transparency International Pakistan, Justice (retd) Zia Perwez, said the improvement reflected ongoing efforts in governance and institutional reform but stressed that sustained progress would depend on the effective implementation of recommendations made in the IMF’s Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment.
Transparency International (TI), headquartered in Berlin, warned that corruption continues to worsen globally, with even established democracies experiencing declining performance amid weakening leadership and shrinking civic space.
The 2025 CPI shows a steady erosion at the top of the rankings. While 12 countries scored above 80 a decade ago, only five managed to do so this year. Since 2012, 31 countries have improved their scores, 50 have declined, and 100 have seen no significant change.
Denmark topped the index for the eighth consecutive year with a score of 89. Only 15 countries — largely in Western Europe and the Asia-Pacific — scored above 75, and just five crossed the 80-point mark.
At the other end of the scale, more than two-thirds of countries scored below 50, indicating serious corruption challenges worldwide. The lowest-ranked countries were mostly conflict-affected or highly repressive states, including Somalia and South Sudan, which both scored nine.
TI noted a worrying decline in democratic governance. Countries traditionally seen as strong on anti-corruption measures — including the United States (64), Canada (75), New Zealand (81), the United Kingdom (70), France (66) and Sweden (80) — all showed weakening performance.
Restrictions on freedoms of expression, association and assembly were identified as a key driver of declining scores. Since 2012, 36 of the 50 countries with the steepest CPI declines have also experienced a contraction in civic space.
The index highlights a stark contrast between countries with strong, independent institutions and open civic environments, and those governed by authoritarian or repressive regimes. Full democracies averaged a CPI score of 71, flawed democracies 47, and authoritarian regimes just 32.
TI Chair François Valérian said corruption was not inevitable and urged governments to strengthen democratic processes, independent oversight and civil society. “At a time of growing disregard for international norms, leaders must act with integrity to deliver a better future,” he said.
TI CEO Maira Martini added that amid climate crises, political polarisation and global instability, accountable leadership and independent institutions were more critical than ever — yet too often falling short.
The report also pointed to the global ripple effects of major powers. Russia was accused of fuelling corruption abroad through election interference, disinformation and vote-buying. Meanwhile, the US decision to weaken enforcement of its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and cut funding for overseas civil society groups was described as a damaging signal that could undermine anti-corruption efforts worldwide.
The report emphasised the need to protect justice systems from political and economic interference, ensure transparency in political financing, and safeguard media freedom and whistle-blowers.
Since 2012, 829 journalists have been killed outside conflict zones, including 150 while investigating corruption. Over 90 per cent of these killings occurred in countries with CPI scores below 50, including Pakistan, underscoring the risks faced by reporters holding power to account.
Transparency International called for stronger checks and balances, effective enforcement mechanisms and international cooperation to combat high-level corruption and cross-border money laundering. It said rebuilding trust in institutions would require broad national coalitions committed to democracy, the rule of law and public accountability.