Transparency International (TI) has warned that corruption is worsening in democracies worldwide as the United States hits its lowest-ever score, as the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index revealed that global integrity levels have reached their most concerning point in over a decade.
The Berlin-based watchdog highlights significant democratic backsliding within the United States since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Consequently, the administration faces criticism for ramping up pressure on independent institutions ranging from universities to the Federal Reserve.
Currently, the Department of Justice is investigating Fed Chairman Jerome Powell after he resisted presidential pressure to reduce interest rates. TI raised urgent concerns over “actions targeting independent voices and undermining judicial independence” within the American political and legal landscape.
Furthermore, the report suggests a shift in corporate accountability. “The temporary freeze and weakening of enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act signal tolerance for corrupt business practices,” the researchers stated. Additionally, the watchdog claims the gutting of overseas aid has “weakened global anti-corruption efforts” significantly.
A Global Decline
The index assigns scores from zero to 100, where higher numbers represent cleaner governments and lower numbers indicate systemic graft. Unfortunately, the number of countries scoring above 80 has shrunk from twelve a decade ago to just five today.
Democracies are showing a worrying trend of perceived corruption, including Canada (75), the UK (70), and France (66). The global average score fell to 42. “The vast majority of countries are failing to keep corruption under control,” the report stated.
Corruption risks increase when countries weaken independent checks or allow private money to exert growing influence on critical decision-making processes. Moreover, TI notes that corruption thrives where governments restrict freedoms of expression, assembly, and essential rights of public association.
In Europe, Hungary and Bulgaria remain the worst performers. The report claims Viktor Orban has “systematically weakened the rule of law” to enable impunity for cronies through public contracting. Conversely, Ukraine showed progress with a score of 36. Although scandals persist, TI noted that “the fact that these scandals are being uncovered shows that Ukraine’s anti-corruption architecture is making a difference.”
Denmark remains the cleanest nation for the eighth year, while Somalia and South Sudan sit at the bottom.
