Rwanda Climbs in Global Anti-Corruption Rankings as Western Scores Decline

Rwanda has achieved its highest-ever score in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released by Transparency International, even as several traditionally strong performers—including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and major European economies—recorded declines.

Rwanda scored 58 percent, up from 57 percent in 2024, securing 41st place globally out of 182 countries. On the African continent, Rwanda tied with Botswana for third place, behind Seychelles (68 percent) and Cape Verde (62 percent).

Within East Africa, Rwanda continues to lead by a wide margin. Tanzania followed with 40 percent, while Kenya (30 percent), Uganda (25 percent), the Democratic Republic of Congo (20 percent), and Burundi (17 percent) trailed significantly. These rankings highlight Rwanda’s relative strength in governance compared to its neighbors, many of whom continue to struggle with entrenched corruption and weak oversight.

For Rwanda, the CPI milestone reflects years of institutional reforms aimed at strengthening accountability and transparency. The country’s consistent improvement contrasts sharply with the global average, which fell to 42 percent—its lowest in more than a decade. Transparency International Rwanda’s Executive Director, Apollinaire Mupiganyi, emphasized that “billions of people continue to live under systems where corruption distorts public services, weakens democracy and undermines development.”

The report underscores a shifting narrative: corruption is no longer seen as a challenge confined to developing nations. Declining scores in Western countries are attributed to weakening oversight, political interference, and growing tolerance for unethical conduct. This erosion of standards in advanced democracies places Rwanda’s progress in sharper relief, positioning it as a regional example of resilience in governance.