RismadarVoice Reporters, February 10, 2026
Transparency International (TI), the global coalition against corruption, has again ranked Nigeria as the 36th most corrupt country in the world.
According to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, released via TI’s website on Tuesday, Nigeria moved from 140th in 2024 to 142nd out of 182 countries, where 1 represents the cleanest country and 182 the most corrupt. Despite this shift, the country maintained its overall ranking as the 36th most corrupt globally, alongside Cameroon, Guatemala, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, and Papua New Guinea, all with a total score of 26 points.
The ranking revealed that Denmark remains the least corrupt country, scoring 89 points, followed by Finland (88), Singapore (84), and New Zealand (81). No African country made the top 10 of the cleanest nations. However, Seychelles, Cabo Verde, and Botswana were Africa’s least corrupt countries, with scores of 68, 62, and 58 points respectively. At the other end of the scale, South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela were ranked the most corrupt nations in the world.
Explaining the methodology, TI Chief Executive Officer, Maíra Martini said the index ranks countries based on perceived levels of public-sector corruption on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). She noted that while 31 countries have significantly reduced corruption since 2012, most nations have either stagnated or worsened.
“The global average has fallen to a new low of 42, while more than two-thirds of countries score below 50. Corruption continues to undermine healthcare, infrastructure, and the future of young people,” Martini warned, adding that corruption remains a serious threat worldwide, with limited signs of progress.
