India climbs five places to 91st rank on Corruption Perceptions Index 2025

India has climbed five places to secure the 91st position out of 182 countries and territories on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 released by Transparency International on Tuesday. The country’s score improved marginally by one point to 39 , up from last year, when it was ranked 96th.

The CPI, compiled annually by the Berlin-based anti-corruption watchdog, measures perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 indicates “highly corrupt” and 100 denotes “very clean”. Despite the improvement in rank, India’s score of 39 remains below the global average of 42 , underscoring that corruption continues to pose a significant challenge.

The report noted that anti-corruption progress in the Asia-Pacific region has been slow, with many countries witnessing public anger and protests against unaccountable leadership. Globally, more than two-thirds of countries scored below 50, reflecting serious corruption concerns worldwide. The global average has fallen to a new low of 42.

Denmark retained the top spot on the index with a score of 89, followed by Finland and Singapore. At the bottom of the rankings were South Sudan and Somalia, both scoring nine points, with Venezuela close behind.

Transparency International also highlighted growing risks to journalists investigating corruption. It stated that over 90 per cent of journalists murdered in non-conflict zones since 2012 were killed in countries with CPI scores below 50, including India. The report warned that attacks on journalists and restrictions on civic space weaken accountability and allow corruption to flourish.

While 31 countries have significantly reduced corruption levels since 2012, many others have stagnated or worsened. The organisation called for stronger democratic safeguards, protection for civil society and independent media, and bold leadership to tackle abuses of power effectively.