KATHMANDU: Nepal has scored 34 points in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, released by Transparency International Nepal (TI Nepal), remaining unchanged from last year and indicating a lack of significant progress in controlling corruption.
Covering 180 countries worldwide, the index places Nepal in the lower-middle range with 34 out of 100 points. Under the CPI methodology, a score of zero indicates a highly corrupt country, while 100 represents a very clean and transparent state.
According to TI Nepal, Nepal’s score was calculated based on data from several international institutions, including the World Bank, World Economic Forum, Bertelsmann Foundation, Global Insight, World Justice Project and V-Dem.
Among South Asian countries, Bhutan ranked highest with 71 points. India and the Maldives scored 39 each, Sri Lanka 35, Pakistan 28, Bangladesh 24 and Afghanistan 16. Neighboring China scored 43 points. Transparency International noted that, except for Bhutan, corruption remains a serious challenge across most South Asian countries.
TI Nepal attributed Nepal’s stagnant score to political instability, weak governance, misuse of public office, impunity and a lack of transparency. The report noted that although public movements, youth activism and civic pressure have increased, these have yet to translate into concrete policy and structural reforms.
The organization also pointed out that the risk of corruption remains high in public service delivery, procurement processes, taxation systems and judicial procedures. It stressed the need to strengthen political will, fully implement laws, ensure an independent judiciary, promote transparent administration and enhance citizen participation to effectively control corruption.
Globally, the average CPI score declined by one point to 42 compared to last year. The index this year covers 182 countries. A decade ago, 12 countries had scored above 80 points, but that number has dropped to just five in 2025. Transparency International said corruption control has weakened in more than 50 countries since 2012, while only 31 countries have shown improvement. Overall, two-thirds of countries scored below 50 points.
Denmark topped the index for the eighth consecutive year with 89 points, making it the least corrupt country. South Sudan and Somalia ranked at the bottom with nine points each.
TI Nepal Chairperson Madan Krishna Sharma said Nepal’s score remaining unchanged at 34 reflects the failure of successive governments to take concrete action against corruption. He said Nepal’s assessment was based on governance-related data from six international institutions up to August 2025.
Sharma said corruption has caused significant financial and human losses in Nepal, weakened governance and increased public dissatisfaction. “In this context, the recent Gen-Z and youth-led movements were largely centered on corruption,” he said, stressing that strong political commitment, full enforcement of laws, adherence to international obligations and strengthening regulatory bodies are essential to curb corruption.
Former TI Nepal president Padmini Pradhanang highlighted the need to elect honest, committed and corruption-free leadership through upcoming elections. TI Nepal General Secretary Sagar Raj Sharma also said Nepal has failed to achieve meaningful success in corruption control and called for coordinated efforts from all sectors to address the problem.
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