Nigeria dropped two points to 142 out of 182 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2025.

In the report released on Tuesday, Transparency International stated that the CPI ranks 182 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public-sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

“Nigeria has a score of 26 this year, with a change of 0 since last year, meaning it ranks 142 out of 182 countries,” the report said.

With a score of 26 out of 100, Africa’s most populous country, which ranked 140th out of 180 countries in 2024, slipped by two points to be 142nd out of 182 countries.

Nigeria has moved up five places in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index ranking.  The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index revealed scant progress against corruption.

In the ranking, Denmark, Finland, and Singapore came first, second, and third, respectively, as countries with the lowest corruption perception index scores, at 89, 88, and 84, respectively.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Seychelles remains the region’s highest scorer with 68 points, followed by Cabo Verde (62), Botswana (58) and Rwanda (58).

“The lowest scorers include Sudan (14), Eritrea (13), Somalia (9) and South Sudan (9),” the report stated.

Transparency International, Paul Banoba, Regional Advisor for Africa, said the report is an indication that African governments need to do more to tackle corruption and promote accountability in public service, lamenting the devastating impact of corruption on citizens.

“Public sector corruption always hits the most vulnerable people the hardest,” Mr Banoba said. “Despite the African Union’s adoption of the Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption more than two decades ago, more needs to be done.”

He added, African governments need to urgently translate anti-corruption commitments into decisive action by further strengthening accountability institutions and increasing transparency, protecting civic space and supporting public participation, along with necessary checks and balances on power.”