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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).

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.”


https://saharareporters.com/2026/02/10/nigeria-listed-among-worlds-40-most-corrupt-nations-2025-index

Nigeria is fantastically corrupt.

iwaeda:
Nigeria is fantastically corrupt.

Yah..but do remember we used at the bottom of the ladder, we have moved up a bit now

With the Epstein files release and revelations US under Trump is supposed to be at the Top

loffyloffy:
Yah..but do remember we used at the bottom of the ladder, we have moved up a bit now

We have moved further down. It’s worse now. Stop lying.

We were number 1 under PDP. Now, we’ve dropped to number 37th. While I think we still have a lot of work to do in the fight against corruption, we must also acknowledge the gain that we have made.

Oil subsidy and multiple exchange rate used to be the leading source of corruption in Nigeria. Today, those holes have been blocked effectively by the Tinubu administration. That has contributed to our ranking dropping down from top ten to 37th. We must sustain the gain and do more.

seunmsg:
We were number 1 under PDP. Now, we’ve dropped to number 37th. While I think we still have a lot of work to do in the fight against corruption, we must also acknowledge the gain that we have made.

Oil subsidy and multiple exchange rate used to be the leading source of corruption in Nigeria. Today, those holes have been blocked effectively by the Tinubu administration. That has contributed to our ranking dropping down from top ten to 37th. We must sustain the gain and do more.

Grasshopper dey roast for fire come dey praise itself say say e dey keep body warm.

Did you deliberated forget to include “the poverty capital of the world” under APC? That was and still is an inglorious record. Should we remind you of that? Nigerians have not rested from the world form of rulership since independence since 2015. Remember that!

givedemwotowoto:
We have moved further down. It’s worse now. Stop lying.

Here are Nigeria's CPI details for the last 5 years, compiled from Transparency International reports and consistent sources:
2025: Score 26/100, Rank 142/182 (no change in score from 2024; slight rank drop due to more countries or shifts)
2024: Score 26/100, Rank 140/180
2023: Score 25/100, Rank 145/180
2022: Score 24/100, Rank 150/180
2021: Score 24/100, Rank 154/180

Perhaps that will refresh your memory, I know you dont want to believe anything good about Nigeria, so no surprises there.

We are not there definitely but from a score of 24 in 2021 to a score of 26 in 2024, still maintained in 2025 is small steps in the right direction.

loffyloffy:
Here are Nigeria's CPI details for the last 5 years, compiled from Transparency International reports and consistent sources:
2025: Score 26/100, Rank 142/182 (no change in score from 2024; slight rank drop due to more countries or shifts)
2024: Score 26/100, Rank 140/180
2023: Score 25/100, Rank 145/180
2022: Score 24/100, Rank 150/180
2021: Score 24/100, Rank 154/180

Perhaps that will refresh your memory, I know you dont want to believe anything good about Nigeria, so no surprises there.

We are not there definitely but from a score of 24 in 2021 to a score of 26 in 2024, still maintained in 2025 is small steps in the right direction.

If shame no de catch you for lies, show us the numbers between 1999 and 2015 when Tinubu ushered in APC into power as national leader

Did we just join the list or we have been there before?

Corruption is everywhere, unless we want to deceive ourselves.

givedemwotowoto:
If shame no de catch you for lies, show us the numbers between 1999 and 2015 when Tinubu ushered in APC into power as national leader

If you can read in english, that is what you asked for.

Nigeria CPI Data (1999–2015)
1999: Score 1.6 / 10, Rank 98 out of ~99 countries
2000: Score 1.2 / 10, Rank 90 out of ~90 countries
2001: Score 1.0 / 10, Rank 90 out of ~91 countries
2002: Score 1.6 / 10, Rank 101 out of ~102 countries
2003: Score 1.4 / 10, Rank 132 out of ~133 countries
2004: Score ~1.4 / 10 (approx.), Rank 144
2005: Score ~1.9 / 10 (approx.), Rank 152 (one of the lowest rankings historically)
2006–2009: Scores remained low, typically around 2.2–2.5 / 10, with ranks in the 130–150 range (exact year-by-year varies slightly by source, but consistently poor).
2010: Score 2.4 / 10, Rank ~134
2011: Score 2.4 / 10, Rank ~143
2012: Score 27 / 100, Rank 139
2013: Score 25 / 100, Rank 144
2014: Score 27 / 100, Rank 136
2015: Score 26 / 100, Rank 136 out of 168 countries
During this period (1999–2015), Nigeria was consistently perceived as one of the more corrupt countries globally, often ranking in the bottom third or lower. The early 2000s saw particularly low scores (around 1–2/10), reflecting perceptions during the post-military transition era. Scores improved slightly after the scale change in 2012 but remained low (mid-20s/100), with little significant progress. For context, a score below 30/100 indicates serious corruption problems.