Africa: Corruption remains a global threat as Transparency International warns of declining leadership
Corruption remains a serious global threat, with limited signs of progress, according to Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.
The index shows that abuse of power continues to undermine governance in many countries, prompting Transparency International to warn that leaders must confront broader drivers of decline, including a rollback of democratic checks and balances and increasing attacks on independent civil society.
The organization notes that the increase in anti-government protests in various parts of the world reflects growing public frustration with unaccountable leadership and growing demands for reform.
The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks 182 countries and territories based on perceived levels of corruption in the public sector, using a scale ranging from zero, considered highly corrupt, to 100, considered very clean.
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While 31 countries have succeeded in significantly reducing levels of corruption since 2012, Transparency International says many others have failed to make progress, with corruption stagnating or worsening over the same period.
The global average score has now fallen to a new low of 42, with more than two-thirds of countries scoring below 50.
Transparency International warns that the impact of corruption is increasingly borne by ordinary citizens, leading to underfunded hospitals, poorly built flood defences, and diminished opportunities for young people.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, corruption remains particularly severe, with the region recording an average score of 32 out of 100, the lowest of any region globally.
Only four out of 49 countries in the region scored above 50, while ten countries deteriorated significantly since 2012 and only seven countries improved, indicating that current anti-corruption strategies have failed to achieve meaningful results.
The organization warned that corruption in the management of public resources reflects weak political integrity, restricts access to basic services, and disproportionately harms the most vulnerable communities.
To reverse this trend, Transparency International urged the region’s governments to prioritize decisive action to combat corruption and strengthen democratic institutions.
Globally, Denmark ranked first in the index, followed by Finland, Singapore, New Zealand and Norway.
However, Transparency International has warned that an anti-corruption leadership gap is emerging, noting declining performance even in established democracies such as the US, UK and New Zealand.
The organization said that the absence of bold leadership weakens the implementation process, reduces ambition, and leads to the erosion of global standards in the fight against corruption.
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It also raised concerns about increasing restrictions on civic space, making it more difficult and dangerous for citizens, journalists and civil society organizations to expose abuse of power, thus reducing transparency and accountability.
Transparency International also warned that even countries with relatively clean public sectors can still enable corruption elsewhere through illicit cross-border financial flows and money laundering.
Transparency International called for renewed commitment, saying progress can still be achieved through stronger justice systems, improved oversight of public spending, and preventing secret funds from influencing elections.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” said Mayra Martini, the organization’s CEO. “Our research and experience as a global anti-corruption movement shows that there is a clear blueprint for holding power to account for the public good.”
“In a time of climate crisis, instability, and polarization, the world needs responsible leaders and independent institutions to protect the public interest more than ever. And too often, they fail to do so.”
