KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, has dropped four places in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking 169th out of 182 countries and territories, the Berlin-based watchdog said on Tuesday.
The annual report, which measures perceived levels of public sector corruption, gave Afghanistan a score of 16 out of 100, down from 17 in 2024, when it ranked 165th, and 17 in 2023, when it was 162nd. The CPI scores countries on a scale from 0, indicating high corruption, to 100, indicating very clean governance.
Denmark topped the index for the eighth consecutive year with a score of 89, followed by Finland and Singapore in second and third place. At the bottom of the rankings were South Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela, Yemen and Libya, countries facing prolonged conflict, political instability and economic crises.
Transparency International said the 2025 CPI shows corruption remains a serious and widespread global challenge, with only limited signs of improvement. Since 2012, 31 countries have made significant progress in reducing corruption, while the majority have either stagnated or deteriorated over the same period. More than two-thirds of countries scored below 50, and the global average fell to a record low of 42.
The report identified Eastern Europe and Central Asia as among the lowest-performing regions, citing entrenched political interests, weak rule of law and widespread impunity for corruption. It also highlighted fragile states such as Afghanistan, Myanmar and North Korea as particularly vulnerable due to restricted civic space, opaque political and financial systems, and the absence of effective democratic oversight and independent judiciaries.
Maira Matini, CEO of Transparency International, said: “At a time of climate crisis, instability and polarization, the world needs accountable leaders and independent institutions to protect the public interest more than ever – yet, too often, they are falling short. We are calling on governments and leaders to act with integrity and live up to their responsibilities to provide a better future for their citizens.”
In Afghanistan, the findings indicate that corruption remains widespread despite Taliban claims of eradication. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have provided minimal transparency on the management of public funds, tax revenue, and national resources. While bribery in the public sector has been criminalized, other forms of corruption—including diversion of public funds and humanitarian aid, nepotism, and abuse of official powers—persist widely.
Transparency International urged global leaders to strengthen democratic checks and balances, protect independent civil society, and act decisively against abuses of power. The watchdog emphasized that without sustained leadership and accountability, countries at the bottom of the CPI risk further declines, undermining governance, economic development and public trust.
