Nigeria Listed Among World’s 40 Most Corrupt Nations In 2025 Index

Nigeria has been ranked the 37th most corrupt country in the world, according to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released on Tuesday by global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International.

The CPI, widely considered the leading global indicator of public-sector corruption, evaluates 182 countries and territories on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

The latest figures reveal a worrying picture of systemic corruption in many nations, with the global average score falling to a decade-low of 42.

Nigeria scored 26 out of 100 points, placing it 142 out of 182 countries in the global ranking, a slight decline from its 2024 position.

While the country’s overall place on the CPI ladder is in the lower spectrum, this performance effectively places Nigeria as the 37th most corrupt nation in the world based on perceived public-sector integrity.

Countries ranked alongside Nigeria with the same score are Cameroon, Guatemala, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, and Papua New Guinea, all sharing similar governance challenges.

Transparency International’s CEO Maíra Martini said the CPI reflects how corruption erodes public trust and undermines development, noting that entrenched corruption affects vital services such as healthcare, infrastructure, and economic opportunity.

“At a time of climate crisis, instability and polarisation, the world needs accountable leaders and independent institutions to protect the public interest more than ever, yet, too often, they are falling short,” Martini said.

“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.”

The CPI report also shows a broader global trend: even established democracies, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have seen their scores slip due to weakening oversight and increasing influence of vested interests.

“The 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that corruption remains a serious threat in every part of the world, although there are limited signs of progress,” the report stated.

“Leaders must act to tackle abuses of power and the wider factors driving this decline, such as the roll-back of democratic checks and balances, and attacks on independent civil society.

“Anti-government protests in many parts of the world show that people are fed up with unaccountable leadership and are demanding reform.”

No African nation broke into the top 10 of the least corrupt countries, underlining widespread governance challenges on the continent.

Among African states, Seychelles, Cabo Verde, and Botswana performed notably better, scoring significantly above Nigeria’s level.

At the bottom of the global chart, South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela were named as the most corrupt countries in the world for 2025.

Denmark, Finland and Singapore rank as the world’s three least corrupt countries, in that order.

According to the report, “We are seeing a concerning picture of long-term decline in leadership to tackle corruption.

“Even established democracies, like the US, UK, and New Zealand, are experiencing a drop in performance.

“The absence of bold leadership is leading to weaker standards and enforcement, lowering ambition on anti-corruption efforts around the world.”

The report noted that many states are increasing restrictions on civic space by making it hard or dangerous for citizens, NGOs, and journalists to challenge abuses of power, and by reducing transparency and accountability.

“This allows corruption to flourish,” Transparency International stated. “Nations with the least corrupt public sectors can still have serious integrity issues, even if the CPI does not measure them.

“Many enable corruption in other countries by facilitating the transfer of proceeds of corruption across borders and into money laundering schemes.

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