US hits lowest rank ever on global corruption index, Transparency Group says
Last seen climbing, now the U.S. sits lower than ever on Transparency International’s scale of perceived corruption, a shift stirring unease. Trust in government thins, like ink washed too long in water. Enforcement once firm feels looser these days, frayed at the edges. What happens here echoes elsewhere, dragging shared norms down a slope without signs. Democracy, often taken as steady, reveals cracks where doubt seeps through.
TL;DR
Last year, the U.S. landed at number 29 on a global list tracking how corrupt countries seem to be, the lowest it’s been since the rankings changed in 2012. Because efforts to fight corruption have slowed, some specialists say things might get worse, just like in several other nations where trust in government is slipping too.
Now sitting at its weakest position yet, the U.S. slips in a key international index tracking government integrity, fresh figures from Transparency International, an organisation focused on rooting out graft, show.
Despite a modest shift, the United States appears at rank 29 in Transparency International’s most recent global assessment. This placement follows evaluations by specialists unaffiliated with governments or corporations. Not seen since 2012 has the nation stood so low under the present scoring rules. Tied with the Bahamas, it sits beneath nations including Uruguay, Lithuania, and Barbados. One spot lower than last year signals a quiet erosion in perceived integrity.
Beginning at zero and moving to 100, the ranking measures how clean a nation’s government operations appear. At 64, the U.S. reaches a record low, continuing a drop seen over ten years. According to Transparency International, weakening oversight bodies may explain the falling numbers. Though past levels were better, recent patterns suggest trust has been eroding slowly.
Out in the U.S., things are shifting; Maíra Martini sees it clearly. As leader of Transparency International, her words reached CNN. If nothing shifts, what's slipping might just keep falling. She pointed that out without hesitation.
Transparency International, in a separate note, highlighted choices in governance seen as limiting efforts against misconduct. Such moves involved halting probes into overseas bribery by businesses, along with less strict application of rules meant to block American firms from offering bribes abroad. What stood out was the slowing down of legal oversight under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Attention also turned to steps viewed as pressuring critics and weakening courts’ autonomy. Independent watchdogs found these developments troubling. Judicial impartiality appeared at risk due to recent administrative directions. Concern grew around measures affecting those who speak without official backing.
Even if the latest shifts do not appear clearly in the figures just yet, concerns about sustained responsibility grow stronger. Still, the organisation points out, less American funding for international civic organisations has dampened progress against corruption worldwide.
A drop in the U.S. reflects patterns noted by Transparency International within long-standing democratic nations. Among those pointing toward troubling movement down the scale are Canada and the United Kingdom. Despite holding position at 20th globally, the U.K. reached an unprecedented low of 70.
Political funding and appointments carry corruption risks, according to Daniel Bruce, head of Transparency International UK. In a message shared via X, he pointed to major donors as shaping undue influence. Safeguards within public roles require reinforcement, his remarks suggested. Leadership in Britain faces pressure to act, though stated without urgency. Attention turns to how systems might resist distortion. Clarity on accountability remains limited, even after the appeal.
Worldwide, signs point to worsening conditions. At 42, the figure dropped, reaching a record low, and showing the first worldwide downturn in over ten years. According to Transparency International, many nations show little progress in curbing corrupt practices.
For eight years in a row now, Denmark has held first place at 89 points, before Finland and then Singapore. Still, Transparency International reminds observers that top scores cannot guarantee clean private industries, as Swiss and Singaporean financial flows continue under review for illegal activity.