New Delhi, February 10, 2026
Corruption levels have declined in India, while rising across several Western nations including the United States and the United Kingdom, according to a new global report released by Transparency International.
The report, which evaluates corruption perceptions across 180 countries, shows that India has recorded a modest but notable improvement in 2025, moving up in global rankings compared to previous years.
India Shows Improvement in Corruption Ranking
According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, India now ranks 91st globally, reflecting an improvement from its earlier position. India’s CPI score has risen to 39, indicating gradual progress over the past three years.
2023 Rank: 93
2024 Rank: 94
2025 Rank: 91
While the upward movement signals improvement, experts caution that a score of 39 remains in the “high-risk” corruption zone, suggesting significant reforms are still needed.
Corruption Increases Across Europe and the West
In contrast, several advanced economies reported declining scores. The report highlights a noticeable rise in corruption-related concerns across Europe and North America.
United Kingdom has dropped out of the global Top 20 least corrupt nations
France and Italy also recorded score declines
Germany stood out as the only major European country to show improvement
The findings indicate growing governance and transparency challenges across parts of Europe.
United States Slips Despite Anti-Corruption Rhetoric
The United States also witnessed a decline. Despite strong political rhetoric aimed at rooting out corruption, the country slipped from 28th place in 2024 to 29th in 2025.
Transparency International noted that institutional trust and accountability mechanisms remain under strain in the US.
China Shows No Improvement
Despite ongoing anti-graft campaigns, China showed no change in its CPI score, which remained at 43. China continues to rank 76th globally, indicating that structural corruption challenges persist.
Least and Most Corrupt Countries
The report identifies Denmark as the least corrupt country in the world, maintaining its top position.
At the other end of the spectrum:
South Sudan
Somalia
remain the most corrupt nations globally, according to the index.
Only seven countries worldwide scored above 80, underscoring how rare high standards of transparency have become.
Global Outlook on Corruption
The report paints a concerning global picture, showing that corruption is worsening in many established democracies, while only incremental progress is being made in developing economies like India.
Transparency International has warned that weak institutions, political interference, and lack of accountability continue to undermine global anti-corruption efforts.
