Arab countries score below global average in corruption perceptions index 2025

Wednesday 18 February 2026 - 12:00

By: Sahili Aya

Arab countries score below global average in corruption perceptions index 2025

The latest findings from the Transparency International highlight persistent governance challenges across the Arab region, where average scores remain below the global benchmark in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

The CPI does not measure corruption by calculating the total amount of embezzled funds or by counting court cases. Instead, it is based on surveys and expert assessments that reflect how business leaders, analysts and specialists perceive levels of public sector corruption in their respective countries.

Regional performance below global average

In 2025, Arab countries recorded an average score of 38 out of 100, compared with a global average of 42. The index uses a scale where 0 represents highly corrupt environments and 100 indicates very clean public sectors.

Among the lowest-ranked countries in the region are Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, which continue to face deep political and economic instability. These countries remain near the bottom of the global ranking, reflecting widespread concerns over weak institutions, limited transparency and fragile rule of law.

Perception versus reality

Because the CPI relies on expert and business surveys, it measures perceptions rather than documented financial losses or judicial outcomes. Critics argue that this methodology captures how elites and market actors view corruption, which may not always align with the lived experience of ordinary citizens.

Some analysts suggest that in several countries, corruption is not merely an irregular practice but is embedded in political and economic systems. In such contexts, the index may reveal not only the extent of corruption, but also the degree to which influential groups have normalized or adapted to it.

Structural governance challenges

Across parts of the Arab world, corruption is often linked to broader structural issues, including limited institutional checks and balances, concentration of power and restricted civic oversight. Experts emphasize that tackling corruption requires more than legal reforms; it demands institutional independence, stronger accountability mechanisms and increased transparency in public spending.

While the CPI does not provide a direct measure of illicit financial flows, it remains one of the most widely cited global benchmarks for assessing governance standards and public sector integrity.