Pakistan improves one spot to 136th on 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index

Pakistan’s score on the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has increased by one point to 28, with the country’s global ranking improving modestly to 136th out of 182 nations, Transparency International reported. 

The CPI, published annually by the Berlin‑based anti‑corruption watchdog, measures perceived levels of public‑sector corruption on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Pakistan’s one‑point gain from its 2024 score of 27 signals a slight perceptual improvement, but the country remains far below the global average. 

Justice Zia Perwez, chair of Transparency International Pakistan, acknowledged ongoing governance and institutional reforms but stressed the need for full implementation of the IMF’s Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment recommendations to maintain momentum and achieve deeper improvements.

Analysts say that while incremental gains in perception can help Pakistan’s investment climate and institutional credibility, sustained policy action and accountability mechanisms are essential for real change beyond rankings.  

The latest CPI reflects broader global trends highlighted by Transparency International, which noted that many democracies and established economies are experiencing challenges in curbing corruption. 

Denmark retained its position as the top‑ranked country on the Corruption Perceptions Index for the eighth consecutive year, scoring 89. Only 15 countries overall scored above 75, and just five exceeded a score of 80, most of them in Western Europe and the Asia‑Pacific region.

By contrast, 68 per cent of countries scored below 50, reflecting widespread corruption challenges globally. The lowest scores were recorded in countries affected by conflict and repression. Venezuela was among those with scores under 25, while Somalia and South Sudan ranked at the bottom with scores of nine each.

The data also reveal that several established democracies are seeing declines in their CPI performance. Nations traditionally viewed as strong on transparency and accountability—such as the United States (64), Canada (75) and New Zealand (81)—along with the United Kingdom (70), France (66) and Sweden (80), have all experienced downward trends in perceived public‑sector integrity.