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Anti-graft watchdog Transparency International (TI) has warned that corruption is worsening in democracies worldwide and said the United States had fallen to its lowest-ever score on the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Issued on: 11/02/2026 - RFI
The Berlin-based TI said the global average score had fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade.
US President Donald Trump, since returning to the White House early last year, has upended domestic and foreign politics while ramping up pressure on institutions ranging from universities to the Federal Reserve.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is currently under investigation by Trump's Department of Justice after resisting pressure from the president to reduce interest rates.
TI raised concerns over "actions targeting independent voices and undermining judicial independence" in the US.
"The temporary freeze and weakening of enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act signal tolerance for corrupt business practices," the watchdog's research says.
The Trump administration's gutting of overseas aid has also "weakened global anti-corruption efforts", it added.
The group's index assigns a score between zero (highly corrupt) and 100 (very clean), based on data reflecting the assessments of experts and business executives.
Data sources have previously included the World Economic Forum and the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Global average lowest in a decade
Overall, the number of countries scoring above 80 has shrunk from 12 a decade ago to just five this year.
In particular, there is a worrying trend of democracies seeing worsening perceived corruption – from the United States (64), Canada (75) and New Zealand (81), to various parts of Europe, like the United Kingdom (70), France (66) and Sweden (80).
The global average score was 42, its lowest level in more than 10 years.
"The vast majority of countries are failing to keep corruption under control," the report said, with 122 countries out of 180 posting scores under 50.
The US case illustrates a trend in democracies experiencing a "decline in performance" in battling corruption, according to the report, a phenomenon it also said was apparent in the UK and France.
While such countries are still near the top of the index, "corruption risks have increased" due to weakening independent checks, gaps in legislation and inadequate enforcement.
"Several have also experienced strains to their democracies, including political polarisation and the growing influence of private money on decision-making," the report noted.
Protecting civic space
The report also pointed out that corruption tends to be tackled better in countries where civic space is guaranteed and protected.
"Those where the freedoms of expression, assembly and association are duly safeguarded are generally more resilient against corruption and score better on the CPI," the report said.
But countries where these freedoms are lacking are more likely to lose control of corruption: 36 of the 50 countries where the CPI scores have significantly declined have also seen a reduction in civic space.
Tens of thousands of Bulgarians filled Sofia's central square, demanding the government's resignation amid rising anger over corruption and contested economic policies, Sofia, Bulgaria, 10 December, 2025. © AP - Valentina Petrova
The worst-performing countries in the European Union were Bulgaria and Hungary, both scoring just 40.
The report said the government of Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban, in power since 2010 and facing a tough battle for re-election in April, "has systematically weakened the rule of law, civic space and electoral integrity for over 10 years".
"This has enabled impunity for channelling billions – including from European Union funds – to groups of cronies through dirty public contracting and other methods," the report said.
The watchdog noted that the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico in neighbouring Slovakia, with a score of 48, is "weakening investigations of corruption and organised crime, especially those involving senior officials".
Denmark top of the class
The highest-ranked nation in the index for the eighth year running was Denmark with a score of 89.
Among the more positive stories of progress in the report was Ukraine, which scored 36.
The government of President Volodymyr Zelensky has faced widespread public anger over graft allegations against those close to him, even as the country is hammered by Russian attacks.
The worst-performing countries in the European Union were Bulgaria and Hungary, both scoring just 40.
The report said the government of Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban, in power since 2010 and facing a tough battle for re-election in April, "has systematically weakened the rule of law, civic space and electoral integrity for over 10 years".
"This has enabled impunity for channelling billions – including from European Union funds – to groups of cronies through dirty public contracting and other methods," the report said.
The watchdog noted that the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico in neighbouring Slovakia, with a score of 48, is "weakening investigations of corruption and organised crime, especially those involving senior officials".
Denmark top of the class
The highest-ranked nation in the index for the eighth year running was Denmark with a score of 89.
Among the more positive stories of progress in the report was Ukraine, which scored 36.
The government of President Volodymyr Zelensky has faced widespread public anger over graft allegations against those close to him, even as the country is hammered by Russian attacks.
War veterans who lost their legs in Russia-Ukraine war hold signs saying "We fight for Ukraine, not for your impunity" during a protest against a law targeting anti-corruption institutions in central Kyiv, Ukraine, 23 July 2025. © Efrem Lukatsky / AP
However, TI noted that "the fact that these and many other scandals are being uncovered ... shows that Ukraine's new anti-corruption architecture is making a difference".
It hailed the "civil society mobilisation" last year, which prompted Zelensky to backtrack in an attempt to curb the independence of anti-graft bodies.
At the bottom of the index, the countries scoring below 25 are mostly conflict-affected and highly repressive countries, such as Venezuela (10) and the lowest scorers, Somalia and South Sudan, which both score nine.
(with AFP)
However, TI noted that "the fact that these and many other scandals are being uncovered ... shows that Ukraine's new anti-corruption architecture is making a difference".
It hailed the "civil society mobilisation" last year, which prompted Zelensky to backtrack in an attempt to curb the independence of anti-graft bodies.
At the bottom of the index, the countries scoring below 25 are mostly conflict-affected and highly repressive countries, such as Venezuela (10) and the lowest scorers, Somalia and South Sudan, which both score nine.
(with AFP)
'Democracy loses out': France sinks to new low in annual global corruption index
France dropped to a historic low in a global corruption index released Tuesday in the wake of high-profile scandals involving former president Nicolas Sarkozy, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and a government cover-up of wrongdoing at the Perrier mineral water company.
Issued on: 10/02/2026
FRANCE24
By: Joanna YORK
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen arrives for a hearing at the Paris courthouse on the Ile de la Cité on February 3, 2026. © Benoit Tessier, Reuters
'No political leadership'
These notable cases have “contributed to the deterioration in the perception of corruption”, said Florent Clouet, chief executive of Transparency International France.
But beyond the headline-grabbing scandals, the organisation has identified several key factors in France allowing an increase in the perception of corruption.
“The most significant problem, in our view, is the lack of political will – there is absolutely no political leadership in the fight against corruption,” Clouet said.
A recent plan to strengthen anti-corruption measures has not been championed by any MPs or presented at the weekly Council of Ministers chaired by President Emmanuel Macron, and accusations of corruption at the heart of government seem increasingly common.
Paris mayoral hopeful and current Culture Minister Rachida Dati is the latest in a series of serving ministers to face corruption charges.
France's culture minister Rachida Dati to be tried on corruption charges
The lack of political support for anti-corruption measures is compounded by under-resourced investigation and prosecution bodies.
The National Financial Prosecutor's Office (Le parquet national financier) is overrun, with “each pair of magistrates ... dealing with 80 cases, when the original plan was for them to handle eight cases”, Clouet said.
There is also a chronic lack of personnel at leading financial investigation agencies the central anti-corruption office (l’Office central de lutte contre la corruption et les infractions financières et fiscales) and the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life.
“As a result, we find ourselves in a situation where, basically, they are unable to properly carry out the missions for which they were created,” Clouet said.
The president of the High Authority for Transparency in Public life in April called on the government to increase its budget, saying that of 13,000 declarations made by public officials in 2024, it only had capacity to verify 5,000.
While these organisations were set up to monitor high-ranking officials and public servants, an additional issue is the lack of oversight at lower levels of government.
“There is great difficulty detecting and combating what is known as 'low-intensity corruption', involving relatively small amounts of money that slip under the radar of prevention and detection mechanisms,” Clouet added.
A ‘worrying trend’
Rather than being an outlier, Transparency International found the issues in France are part of a “worrying trend” of “backsliding scores in traditionally well-performing democracies” including Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK.
Globally, more than two thirds of all countries surveyed received a score lower than 50 and “the vast majority of countries are failing to keep corruption under control", the report found.
Over the past decade, progress has “stalled” in Western Europe and “been deteriorating” in the US, which dropped to a new low of 64, it added.
Indeed, US President Donald Trump’s dismantling of decades-old measures to fight corruption seem to have inspired other countries to loosen their own laws.
“In the current geopolitical climate, Europe should be raising, not lowering, its anti-corruption ambitions. Corruption is not inevitable,” said Flora Cresswell, regional adviser for Western Europe at Transparency International.
But “that's not what's happening. Europe tends to follow the United States’ lead,” Clouet said.
The degradation in the public's perception of corruption comes with serious consequences, he warned, causing disenchanted citizens "to abstain from politics" as well as driving "social anger, which can fuel illiberal political forces. In all cases, it's democracy that really loses out.”
A survey released on Monday by the Cevipof research institute found that just 22 percent of people in France say they have confidence in politics – a four percent drop on the previous year.
France dropped to a historic low in a global corruption index released Tuesday in the wake of high-profile scandals involving former president Nicolas Sarkozy, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and a government cover-up of wrongdoing at the Perrier mineral water company.
Issued on: 10/02/2026
FRANCE24
By: Joanna YORK
A view of the hemicycle at the National Assembly in Paris, France, on January 20, 2026. © Sarah Meyssonnier, Reuters
France dropped on Tuesday to an all-time low in Transparency International’s annual corruption perceptions index, with the organisation warning of “democratic danger” if politicians fail to act.
The Corruption Perceptions Index is compiled by experts and businesspeople who rank 182 countries on their perceived corruption levels in the public sector based on data from institutions including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
Countries score between zero, for those seen as highly corrupt, and 100, for those seen as very clean. In the 2025 edition released on Tuesday, Denmark ranked top with 89 points and South Sudan lowest with a score of 9.
France was given a score of 66 points, one point lower than 2024, and slipped down in the overall rankings to 27th place – its worst performance since the index, which was created in 1995, implemented its current methodology in 2012.
France’s poor score comes on the back of three high-profile corruption cases that dominated headlines last year.
A Senate report released in May found that the French government covered up consumer fraud by food giant Nestle, allowing the company to use prohibited treatments to produce "natural" mineral waters, including Perrier.
Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy was imprisoned for 20 days in October after being found guilty of illegally seeking funding for his successful presidential campaign from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
And, in an ongoing scandal, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and others from her National Rally party were found guilty in March of embezzling European Parliament funds.
Le Pen appeared in a Paris court this week to appeal the verdict which, if upheld, will ban her for running in the 2027 presidential elections.
France dropped on Tuesday to an all-time low in Transparency International’s annual corruption perceptions index, with the organisation warning of “democratic danger” if politicians fail to act.
The Corruption Perceptions Index is compiled by experts and businesspeople who rank 182 countries on their perceived corruption levels in the public sector based on data from institutions including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
Countries score between zero, for those seen as highly corrupt, and 100, for those seen as very clean. In the 2025 edition released on Tuesday, Denmark ranked top with 89 points and South Sudan lowest with a score of 9.
France was given a score of 66 points, one point lower than 2024, and slipped down in the overall rankings to 27th place – its worst performance since the index, which was created in 1995, implemented its current methodology in 2012.
France’s poor score comes on the back of three high-profile corruption cases that dominated headlines last year.
A Senate report released in May found that the French government covered up consumer fraud by food giant Nestle, allowing the company to use prohibited treatments to produce "natural" mineral waters, including Perrier.
Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy was imprisoned for 20 days in October after being found guilty of illegally seeking funding for his successful presidential campaign from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
And, in an ongoing scandal, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and others from her National Rally party were found guilty in March of embezzling European Parliament funds.
Le Pen appeared in a Paris court this week to appeal the verdict which, if upheld, will ban her for running in the 2027 presidential elections.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen arrives for a hearing at the Paris courthouse on the Ile de la Cité on February 3, 2026. © Benoit Tessier, Reuters'No political leadership'
These notable cases have “contributed to the deterioration in the perception of corruption”, said Florent Clouet, chief executive of Transparency International France.
But beyond the headline-grabbing scandals, the organisation has identified several key factors in France allowing an increase in the perception of corruption.
“The most significant problem, in our view, is the lack of political will – there is absolutely no political leadership in the fight against corruption,” Clouet said.
A recent plan to strengthen anti-corruption measures has not been championed by any MPs or presented at the weekly Council of Ministers chaired by President Emmanuel Macron, and accusations of corruption at the heart of government seem increasingly common.
Paris mayoral hopeful and current Culture Minister Rachida Dati is the latest in a series of serving ministers to face corruption charges.
France's culture minister Rachida Dati to be tried on corruption charges
La ministra de Cultura de Francia, Rachida Dati, durante la sesión en la Asamblea Nacional este 30 de junio de 2025. AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN
01:29
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The lack of political support for anti-corruption measures is compounded by under-resourced investigation and prosecution bodies.
The National Financial Prosecutor's Office (Le parquet national financier) is overrun, with “each pair of magistrates ... dealing with 80 cases, when the original plan was for them to handle eight cases”, Clouet said.
There is also a chronic lack of personnel at leading financial investigation agencies the central anti-corruption office (l’Office central de lutte contre la corruption et les infractions financières et fiscales) and the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life.
“As a result, we find ourselves in a situation where, basically, they are unable to properly carry out the missions for which they were created,” Clouet said.
The president of the High Authority for Transparency in Public life in April called on the government to increase its budget, saying that of 13,000 declarations made by public officials in 2024, it only had capacity to verify 5,000.
While these organisations were set up to monitor high-ranking officials and public servants, an additional issue is the lack of oversight at lower levels of government.
“There is great difficulty detecting and combating what is known as 'low-intensity corruption', involving relatively small amounts of money that slip under the radar of prevention and detection mechanisms,” Clouet added.
A ‘worrying trend’
Rather than being an outlier, Transparency International found the issues in France are part of a “worrying trend” of “backsliding scores in traditionally well-performing democracies” including Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK.
Globally, more than two thirds of all countries surveyed received a score lower than 50 and “the vast majority of countries are failing to keep corruption under control", the report found.
Over the past decade, progress has “stalled” in Western Europe and “been deteriorating” in the US, which dropped to a new low of 64, it added.
Indeed, US President Donald Trump’s dismantling of decades-old measures to fight corruption seem to have inspired other countries to loosen their own laws.
“In the current geopolitical climate, Europe should be raising, not lowering, its anti-corruption ambitions. Corruption is not inevitable,” said Flora Cresswell, regional adviser for Western Europe at Transparency International.
But “that's not what's happening. Europe tends to follow the United States’ lead,” Clouet said.
The degradation in the public's perception of corruption comes with serious consequences, he warned, causing disenchanted citizens "to abstain from politics" as well as driving "social anger, which can fuel illiberal political forces. In all cases, it's democracy that really loses out.”
A survey released on Monday by the Cevipof research institute found that just 22 percent of people in France say they have confidence in politics – a four percent drop on the previous year.
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