OECD Review Shows Ukraine Outperforms Member States in Anti-Corruption Fight

Ukraine's Scores in the OECD's 2026 Anti-Corruption and Integrity Review

According to НАЗК: In the OECD's 2026 Anti-Corruption and Integrity Review, Ukraine's scores surpassed the average for member countries across most categories. The review, which covers over 60 nations, provides an analysis of anti-corruption strategies, lobbying institutions, conflict of interest, political finance, judicial integrity, prosecutorial integrity, and public information transparency. Ukraine's overall score for compliance with regulatory criteria stands at 88%, with a 72% score for practical implementation. By comparison, the average scores for OECD member states are 66% for regulatory frameworks and 40% for practical implementation. This assessment comes as Ukraine continues its reform agenda amidst significant geopolitical challenges.

The analysis is based on data from the OECD's Public Integrity Indicators. As part of this process, on March 25, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine sent an official letter to the OECD requesting to join the OECD Council Recommendation on Public Integrity. The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAZK) initiated this accession procedure and also played a leading role in analyzing the legislative framework.

Ukraine's Performance Across Different Areas

Ukraine meets 73% of regulatory criteria and 80% of implementation criteria, whereas the OECD averages are 38% and 32%, respectively. In the area of lobbying, Ukraine is a leader alongside Canada, France, and Estonia, with regulation at 80% and practice at 89%. In conflict of interest, Ukraine achieved 100% compliance for its regulatory framework and 67% in practice, compared to OECD averages of 80% and 45%.

• Political Finance: Ukraine shows full compliance with regulatory criteria (100%) and 71% for implementation, while the OECD averages are 76% and 58%.
• Judicial Integrity: Ukraine meets 97% of standards for its legal framework and 92% in practice, compared to OECD averages of 66% and 45%.
• Prosecutorial Integrity: Ukraine achieves 69% compliance in regulation and 79% in implementation, exceeding the OECD averages (66% and 52%).

The system of disciplinary responsibility for civil servants in Ukraine meets 92% of criteria for its legal framework and 33% in practice, while the OECD averages are 66% and 22%.

NAZK Head Viktor Pavlushchyk noted: 'The new OECD assessments confirm the high quality of Ukraine's anti-corruption policy design and the appropriate level of implementation of integrity standards found in developed countries.'

The positive scores indicate Ukraine's progress in anti-corruption policy and public management integrity, which can strengthen trust in state institutions. However, despite high scores in regulatory design, a focus on the practical implementation of these norms is necessary to ensure their effectiveness in the daily operations of government structures. This progress may also open new opportunities for Ukraine's integration into international standards and initiatives, which could positively influence the overall situation in the country. The OECD is a key international body whose standards are widely seen as benchmarks for good governance.

As Ukraine continues to demonstrate significant progress in its anti-corruption efforts, recent data shows that the country's corruption exposure rate has decreased to 18.2%. This improvement underscores the effectiveness of the reforms being implemented, further highlighting Ukraine's commitment to enhancing public integrity amidst ongoing challenges.