Kosovo has received 43 points in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International (TI), marking a decline of one point compared to 2024. As a result, the country now ranks 76th out of 182 countries and territories worldwide, falling three positions from the previous year.
The CPI measures perceived levels of public sector corruption, scoring countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The ranking reflects each country’s relative position compared to others globally.
Slight Decline After Previous Improvement
Kosovo achieved its highest CPI score in 2024 with 44 points, ranking 73rd globally, following modest progress from 2023, when it recorded 41 points. The country has been included in the index since 2012, with its lowest performance recorded between 2013 and 2015, when it scored 33 points for three consecutive years.
Regional Comparisons
Within the Western Balkans, Montenegro recorded the highest score with 46 points, maintaining its previous performance. North Macedonia scored 40 points, unchanged from last year, while Albania declined to 39 points, down from 42. Bosnia and Herzegovina scored 34 points, showing a slight improvement compared to the previous year, while Serbia dropped to 33 points, reflecting a decline from 35 points.
Institutional Weaknesses and Democratic Setbacks
Transparency International highlighted that in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, corruption continues to be fueled by weak institutions and democratic stagnation. The organization noted that power concentration, political influence over the judiciary, and pressure on civil society are undermining accountability mechanisms and reducing public oversight.
Across the Western Balkans, the report identified lack of transparency in decision-making for large investment projects as a recurring concern. TI warned that suspending transparency rules and granting discretionary powers increases corruption risks, while simultaneously eroding public trust in government institutions.
Environmental and Investment Concerns in the Region
The report also raised concerns about environmental governance. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, TI warned that the absence of competitive procedures has enabled uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources. In Albania, the organization cited risks of environmental degradation linked to development plans on Sazan Island, where a company linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, received strategic investor status for a 10-year period to develop a tourism resort. The project has faced criticism from environmental activists concerned about potential damage to protected coastal areas.
In Serbia, TI referenced the controversial removal of protection from a cultural monument to facilitate a luxury hotel development project, though reports later indicated that Kushner withdrew from the investment.
Judicial Pressure and Anti-Corruption Challenges
Transparency International emphasized that weak judicial responses remain a major barrier to combating corruption in several Western Balkan countries. The organization pointed to Serbia, where prosecutors investigating high-level corruption cases reportedly face increasing political pressure, smear campaigns, and legal changes that could weaken anti-corruption investigations.
The report also noted a rise in youth-led protests in countries with lower CPI scores, particularly in Serbia, where demonstrations expanded from demands for accountability following a deadly infrastructure collapse to broader calls for new elections.
Global Corruption Trends
Globally, the average CPI score has fallen to 42, marking a decline over more than a decade. Transparency International reported that 122 out of 182 countries scored below 50, indicating widespread corruption challenges. Additionally, the number of countries scoring above 80 has decreased from 12 a decade ago to just five in 2025.
The organization also highlighted growing corruption concerns in established democracies, including the United States (64 points), Canada (75), New Zealand (81), the United Kingdom (70), France (66), and Sweden (80).
Top and Bottom Performers
According to the 2025 index, Denmark, Finland, and Singapore remain the least corrupt countries globally. At the bottom of the rankings are Venezuela, Somalia, and Sudan, which continue to face severe governance and corruption challenges.
Transparency International clarified that the CPI focuses on corruption in the public sector, including bribery, misuse of public funds, political appointments, conflicts of interest, and limitations on whistleblower protections. The index does not measure citizens’ direct experiences with corruption, tax fraud, money laundering, or corruption in the private sector.
