The United States has been ranked as the most corrupt country in the world, according to Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The index scores countries based on experts’ and businesspeople’s perceptions of public sector corruption.
In its lowest ever score, the US received 65 out of 100 points, a four-point drop since 2023. This ranking places the US 28th among 180 countries, tied with the Bahamas.
Denmark, Finland, and Singapore are the top three cleanest countries, while Venezuela, Somalia, and South Sudan are among the most corrupt. The CPI highlighted “undue influence” by industries that undermine climate and environmental policies in countries across all levels of corruption.
The decline in US rankings is attributed to various factors, including industry influence on policy-making. Transparency International notes that the score does not reflect the current year’s events, which have caused concerns about a constitutional crisis due to civil service upheaval and frozen federal funds.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/02/11/us-record-low-international-corruption-index