Spain’s Corruption Perception Worsens in Global Rankings, Now Trails Rwanda and Saudi Arabia
Spain has recorded its fifth consecutive annual decline in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), dropping one point to score 55 out of 100 in the 2025 ranking. This places the EU nation below authoritarian states including Rwanda (58) and Saudi Arabia (57), marking a concerning trend for one of Europe’s largest economies.
Political Scandals and European Context
The report highlights Spain as one of Europe’s most significant decliners alongside Bulgaria, citing a “turbulent year for the PSOE and the government” dominated by the Koldo case. This influence-peddling scandal resulted in the imprisonment of former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, advisor Koldo García, and briefly implicated former PSOE secretary Santos Cerdán before his conditional release.
Global Corruption Trends Reach Critical Levels
Transparency International’s 2025 report reveals alarming worldwide patterns:
- The global average score fell to 42/100 – the lowest in over a decade
- 122 of 180 countries scored below 50
- Consolidated democracies show weakening anti-corruption safeguards
International Rankings: Leaders and Laggards
Denmark maintained its top position (89) for an eighth consecutive year, followed by Finland (84), Singapore and New Zealand (81). The United States continued its decline, hitting a historic low of 64. The UK’s 12-place drop since 2017 left it at 70, while Baltic nations showed improvement through governance reforms.
Spain’s Decade-Long Backslide
Since 2012, Spain has fallen ten CPI points – among Europe’s steepest declines alongside Malta (-8 points). This contrasts with dramatic improvements in Greece (+14 to 50) and the Czech Republic (+10 to 59), demonstrating that progress remains possible with sustained anti-corruption efforts.
Democracy Under Pressure
The report identifies a dangerous correlation: 36 of 50 countries with significant CPI declines since 2012 have simultaneously restricted civic freedoms. Transparency International warns that shrinking democratic spaces enable corruption, creating “a vicious cycle that undermines governance worldwide.”
Methodology note: The CPI aggregates data from 13 independent institutions including the World Bank and World Economic Forum, assessing perceived public sector corruption on a 0-100 scale where 0 represents “highly corrupt.”
Source: Transparency International CPI 2025 | Full Report Details Here
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