U.S. Pushed to Its Worst-Ever Position on Global Corruption Index

The United States has fallen to its worst-ever position in a leading global index that measures perceptions of public-sector corruption among experts and businesspeople, Hanna Ziady reported for CNN.

The US' CPI came in at 64 on a scale where 100 is very clean, and 0 is highly corrupt. (Photo: The White House) 

The world’s most powerful democracy last year slipped one notch to 29th place out of 182 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

That is the lowest rank since 2012, when the index, established in 1995, was relaunched using a new methodology.

In its new position, the US tied with the Bahamas and was beaten by Lithuania (28), Barbados (24), and Uruguay (17).

The US ranking has been on a downward trend for the past decade.

It took another hit last year when the Trump administration curtailed the federal government’s ability to fight public corruption by pausing investigations into corporate foreign bribery and limiting enforcement of a foreign agent registration law, among other measures.

Since returning to the White House, US President Donald Trump has also weakened institutions and deployed the tools of government against perceived foes.

The US overall CPI score also hit its lowest-ever level, extending its decade-long slide. It came in at 64 on a scale where 100 is very clean and 0 is highly corrupt.

“We are very concerned about the situation in the US,” Transparency International CEO Maíra Martini told CNN. “This declining trend might continue.”

Transparency International, a not-for-profit coalition fighting corruption, raised further alarm: “Although 2025 developments are not yet fully reflected, actions targeting independent voices and undermining judicial independence raise serious concerns.”