Ukraine Gains Ground in Global Corruption Ranking, the Only Nation to Improve During War

Advancement in Corruption Perceptions Index

According to Главком: In the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine's score rose by one point to 36, placing it 104th out of 182 nations. This makes Ukraine the only country to show measurable progress while under conditions of war and occupation. It now shares the 104th position with Argentina and Belize. In contrast, other regional states like Moldova, Romania, and Hungary each lost one point, while Georgia and Turkey dropped by three points.

Progress and Ongoing Challenges

Bosnia and Herzegovina also demonstrated progress in the index. Despite its improvement, Ukraine's score remains three points below the average of 39 for EU candidate countries and six points behind Moldova. It is notable that since 2013, Ukraine has advanced by 11 points, climbing 40 places from 144th to 104th in the global ranking. This is a significant achievement, as only about 20 countries worldwide have shown such growth over that period.

According to a 2024 study by Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention, the Corruption Perceptions Index is a composite indicator calculated from 13 different sources provided by 12 institutions. The primary sources for the index focus on:

• the effectiveness of systems to punish and prevent corruption,
• transparency and accountability in the use of public funds,
• the level of state intervention in the economy,
• the protection of whistleblowers,
• media coverage of corruption cases,
• the methods of financing political parties,
• and the prevalence of private interests among officials across different branches of government.

Despite four years of Russian aggression, Ukraine has added four points to its score since 2021. The National Agency on Corruption Prevention stated that 'only about 20 countries in the world have shown such growth. Meanwhile, the overall global trend remains unchanged – the vast majority of states are either worsening or at least not increasing their CPI scores.' This index is a key benchmark monitored by international investors and institutions.

Ukraine's improved performance in the Corruption Perceptions Index signals the country's continued efforts to combat corruption despite the immense challenges of war. This progress could positively impact Ukraine's international reputation and its aspirations for European integration. However, the gap with the average score of EU candidate countries underscores the need for further governance and transparency reforms.