Nigeria’s Global Corruption Ranking Slips to 142nd in 2025 TI Index
Nigeria Drops in Global Corruption Ranking Amid Persistent Governance Concerns
NIGERIA has dropped two places in Transparency International’s (TI) 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), now ranking 142nd out of 182 countries, underscoring enduring challenges in curbing public sector corruption.
Though the overall ranking has worsened compared to 2024, Nigeria retained its CPI score of 26 out of 100, marking little perceptible improvement in the fight against corruption. The country remains tied with Cameroon, Guatemala, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan and Papua New Guinea in terms of overall score.
On TI’s scale, 0 represents a highly corrupt public sector, while 100 indicates a very clean one. Nigeria’s score sits well below the global average of 42 and highlights ongoing public concerns about governance, transparency, and accountability.
What the Ranking Reveals
The Corruption Perceptions Index measures perceived levels of corruption in the public sector, based on expert assessments and opinion surveys. It is widely regarded as a leading global benchmark for comparing corruption across countries.
In 2025, Nigeria’s fall to 142nd place reflects stagnation rather than a sudden deterioration, as the score remained unchanged from the previous year. Analysts note that this suggests limited progress in reform measures or palpable public sector improvements over recent administrations.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria trails behind numerous peers that outperformed it on the CPI, including Seychelles, Cabo Verde and Botswana, which posted relatively higher scores among African nations.
Global Context and Regional Performance
Globally, Denmark emerged as the least corrupt country with an 89 score, followed by Finland (88), Singapore (84) and New Zealand (81). No African country made the top 10 list of the cleanest nations, which continues to be dominated by European and Asia-Pacific countries.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, conflict-affected and weak governance states such as South Sudan, Somalia and Venezuela ranked among the most corrupt, illustrating the broad range of corruption challenges faced by nations around the world.
Expert Assessment: Corruption’s Pervasive Impact
TI’s Chief Executive Officer, Maíra Martini, said the 2025 CPI underscores a concerning global trend where most countries have stagnated or worsened in perceived public sector corruption. Only a small group of countries have recorded meaningful improvements since 2012.
Martini highlighted that corruption not only undermines governance and trust in institutions but also directly affects citizens’ lives by diverting resources from essential services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
She warned that weaker standards and enforcement, shrinking civic spaces, and reduced transparency enable corruption to flourish. “The absence of bold leadership is leading to lower ambition on anti-corruption efforts,” she said, pointing to declining performance even in major democracies.
Reactions and Calls for Reform
The latest ranking has prompted calls for stronger anti-corruption action in Nigeria from civil society actors and advocacy groups, who say reform efforts must be accelerated and institutional accountability strengthened.
Critics argue that persistent graft perceptions reflect ongoing issues with weak enforcement, selective accountability, and insufficient systemic reforms, despite repeated government pledges to crack down on corruption. Experts contend that a sustained focus on transparency, judicial independence, and protection for civil society are essential to reverse Nigeria’s slide in global rankings.
Looking Ahead
Nigeria’s performance in the 2025 CPI serves as a reminder that corruption remains deeply entrenched, and that progress requires sustained political will, stronger institutions, and inclusive governance reforms.
As the nation grapples with these perceptions and policy challenges, stakeholders say that proactive measures—especially in enhancing anti-corruption frameworks and civic oversight—will be crucial if Nigeria hopes to climb higher in future global indices.
