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Sri Lanka has recorded a significant improvement in its global ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, climbing 14 places compared to the previous year, according to Transparency International.
Sri Lanka has risen from Rank 121 in 2024 to Rank 107 in 2025 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), marking one of the country’s most notable improvements in recent years.
The CPI is the world’s most widely recognized indicator of public sector corruption. It evaluates countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sectors are perceived to be, using a scale from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
In 2024, Sri Lanka recorded its worst-ever CPI ranking, placing among the most corrupt third of the 180 countries assessed. The improvement in 2025 suggests progress in governance and anti-corruption measures, although challenges remain.
Globally, the CPI 2025 highlights worrying trends, with the global average score remaining low at 42 out of 100, indicating a persistent struggle to control corruption. More than two-thirds of the countries assessed scored below 50, showing widespread corruption concerns worldwide.
Denmark continues to lead the index with a score of 89, followed closely by Finland and Singapore. Meanwhile, countries such as South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela remain at the bottom of the rankings due to severe instability and restricted civil societies.
Transparency International also reports that corruption is increasing globally, even in established democracies. Several countries, including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, and Sweden, have experienced declining performance. The index further highlights growing restrictions on civic freedoms and transparency in many countries.
The CPI assesses multiple aspects of public sector corruption, including bribery, misuse of public funds, nepotism, lack of transparency, and legal protections for whistleblowers.
Sri Lanka’s improved ranking offers cautious optimism, but experts emphasize the need for sustained reforms, transparency, and accountability to maintain progress and strengthen public trust.
