ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s standing in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 presents a mixed picture, as only one global source rated the country better than last year, two showed deterioration, and five recorded no change.
Pakistan achieved a score of 28 out of 100 in the 2025 index, ranking 136th among 182 countries, compared with 135th out of 180 in 2024. Transparency International calculated the score using eight independent data sources, each assessing different dimensions of public-sector corruption.
The only improvement came from the Varieties of Democracy Project, which raised Pakistan’s rating from 14 in 2024 to 19 in 2025. This index evaluates corruption across public institutions, including the executive, legislature, judiciary, and broader state sector. The higher rating indicates relatively better perceptions of corruption at the political and institutional level, though the improvement was not supported by stronger enforcement or rule-of-law indicators, limiting its overall impact on the CPI score.
Two organisations lowered Pakistan’s rating. The World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey reduced the score from 33 to 32, reflecting business leaders’ views on bribery in trade, licensing, taxation, judicial rulings, and misuse of public funds. The decline suggests worsening perceptions among businesses regarding informal payments and misallocation of resources.
Similarly, the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index decreased Pakistan’s score from 26 to 25. This index measures whether officials in institutions such as the executive, judiciary, legislature, police, and military refrain from abusing power for personal gain. The drop indicates continued concerns about accountability and weak enforcement against abuse of authority.
Five sources reported no year-to-year change, pointing to institutional stagnation. These include the Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index, which showed no progress in prosecuting corruption or improving government control; the Economist Intelligence Unit, which highlighted persistent weaknesses in public financial management, civil service professionalism, and judicial independence; Global Insights Country Risk Ratings, which recorded no change in business corruption risk; PRS International Country Risk Guide, which continued to note issues like political patronage and nepotism; and the World Bank CPIA, which found no improvement in transparency, executive accountability, or resistance to state capture.
