Transparency International has released the 2025 edition of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), the leading global indicator of public-sector corruption. The index assesses 182 countries and territories based on expert evaluations drawn from 13 independent data sources.
The findings paint a troubling picture. Corruption is worsening worldwide, with declining performance even among established democracies. Italy scores 53 points in the 2025 CPI, down one point from 2024, confirming a negative trend that began last year after more than a decade of gradual improvement. The country remains ranked 52nd globally.
According to Transparency International, Italy’s setback is linked to a weakening of its corruption prevention framework. Key concerns include the decriminalisation of abuse of office and Italy’s joint stance with Germany against including this offence among EU-wide crimes in the new Anti-Corruption Directive proposed by the European Commission in 2023 and provisionally approved in December.
Structural gaps also persist. These include the absence of a comprehensive lobbying law - with an incomplete bill recently passed by the lower house and now under Senate review - and the lack of an overarching conflict-of-interest regulation. The suspension of the beneficial ownership register further undermines transparency and anti-money-laundering efforts.
The CPI 2025 highlights declining scores in other countries traditionally seen as strong performers, including the United States, Canada, New Zealand and several European nations such as the United Kingdom, France and Sweden. Over the past decade, more European Union and Western European countries have experienced setbacks in anti-corruption efforts than improvements.