Pakistan Improves Position in Corruption Perception Index but Still High at 134
Transparency International has released the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2025, showing a slight improvement for Pakistan in both ranking and overall score. Pakistan has been placed at 136 out of 182 countries, marking a one-position improvement compared to the previous year, when it was ranked 135th out of 180 countries.
According to the CPI 2025, Pakistan’s overall score increased to 28, up from 27 in 2024. The index measures perceived levels of corruption in the public sector on a scale ranging from zero, which indicates a highly corrupt system, to 100, which reflects a very clean public sector. The improvement suggests marginal progress in governance and anti-corruption measures over the past year.
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Commenting on the results, Chair of Transparency International Pakistan Justice (retd) Zia Perwez said that while Pakistan has undertaken notable steps in governance and institutional reforms, there is a strong need to effectively implement the recommendations outlined in the IMF Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment. He emphasized that sustained implementation of these recommendations is essential for maintaining and accelerating Pakistan’s upward movement in future CPI rankings.
At the global level, the CPI 2025 presents a concerning picture, with corruption continuing to worsen across many parts of the world. Transparency International reported that even established democracies are experiencing rising corruption, often linked to declining leadership standards. The index ranks 182 countries and territories, with the global average score standing at 42 out of 100, the lowest level recorded in more than a decade.
The report highlights that more than two-thirds of countries, 122 out of 180, score below 50, indicating widespread difficulties in controlling corruption. For the eighth consecutive year, Denmark topped the index with a score of 89, followed by Finland at 88 and Singapore at 84. On the other end of the scale, countries with severely restricted civil societies and high instability recorded the lowest scores, including South Sudan and Somalia at 9 each, and Venezuela at 10.
Transparency International noted that corruption is worsening even in countries traditionally seen as strong performers in anti-corruption efforts. The CPI 2025 points to declining scores in nations such as the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, as well as several European countries including the United Kingdom, France, and Sweden. The report described this trend as particularly worrying, as democracies have historically performed better than autocratic or flawed democratic systems in tackling corruption.
Another major concern raised in the report is the shrinking of civic space worldwide. Since 2012, 36 of the 50 countries that have seen significant declines in CPI scores have also experienced increased restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and assembly. Transparency International warned that the absence of strong and decisive leadership in the global fight against corruption is weakening international anti-corruption efforts and could reduce pressure for meaningful reforms across many countries.
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