Pakistan has improved its standing in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, moving up one spot – from 135 out of 180 countries in 2024 to 136 out of 182 countries this year.

According to a report by Berlin-based Transparency International, the country’s CPI score also inched upward, rising from 27 to 28.

In its report, Transparency International noted that corruption is a growing global concern, affecting even well-established democracies as leadership accountability declines. The 2025 index reveals a shrinking number of countries performing exceptionally well, with only five nations scoring above 80.

Since 2012, global trends in CPI scores show 31 countries improved, 50 declined and 100 remained unchanged, highlighting the uneven progress in tackling corruption worldwide.

This year, 182 countries and territories were ranked based on perceptions of public-sector corruption among experts and business leaders.

Per the rankings, Denmark led for the eighth consecutive year with a score of 89 while only a handful of countries, mainly in Western Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, scored above 75, and just five surpassed 80.

Meanwhile, over two-thirds of countries (68%) scored below 50, indicating widespread corruption challenges. The lowest-ranked countries, such as Somalia and South Sudan, scored just nine, reflecting the link between conflict, repression and corruption.

Even long-standing democracies experienced troubling declines, the report said.

Countries like the United States (64), Canada (75), New Zealand (81), the United Kingdom (70), France (66) and Sweden (80) showed a downward trend in anti-corruption performance.

Transparency International highlighted that restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association are closely tied to declining CPI scores, with 36 of the 50 countries showing significant drops also experiencing reduced civic space since 2012.

“Corruption is not inevitable. Our global research shows that strong democratic processes, independent oversight, and active civil societies create a clear blueprint to hold power accountable,” Transparency International Chair Francois Velerian said in a statement.

He also urged leaders to uphold integrity and international norms to secure a better future for citizens globally, as the global corruption watchdog urged governments worldwide to strengthen justice systems, ensure independent oversight of public spending, increase transparency in political funding and protect civic freedoms and media independence.

These measures are vital to curb corruption and reinforce accountability, it said.