Ukraine Gains 1 Point in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index: Nominal Progress Amid Ongoing Anti-Corruption Reform Challenges

Ukraine scored 36 out of 100 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), showing a minimal increase of one point. Despite this positive dynamics, Transparency International Ukraine (TI Ukraine) warns that the current result is an “advance” granted to the authorities by society and international partners—not the outcome of a consistent state policy.

According to the findings, Ukraine ranked 104th out of 182 countries, sharing this position with Argentina and Belize. This matches Ukraine’s 2023 result, indicating stagnation after the previous jump.

• Society as the driver, authorities in “score debt”: The minimal increase was made possible not by systemic government action, but by public cohesion. In particular, mass protests and strong public backlash in July 2025 helped protect the independence of anti-corruption institutions from attempted legislative dismantling.

• Ukraine as the only regional improver: Against the backdrop of declining scores in most neighboring countries (Moldova, Romania, and Hungary each lost 1 point) and among other EU candidates (Georgia and Turkey each lost 3 points), only Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina showed progress. However, Ukraine still trails the average score of EU candidate countries (39 points) by 3 points and remains 6 points behind neighboring Moldova.

• Risk of eroding partner confidence. The lack of a breakthrough in reforms (blocked NACP audit, unresolved issues around the Accounting Chamber and the HQCJ) creates a “score debt” that may translate into a lower CPI 2026 result and reduced confidence among investors and international partners.
• Need for systemic change: Andrii Borovyk, Executive Director of TI Ukraine, stresses that the +1 point reflects the work of the HACC, the NABU, and the SAPO, whose autonomy was preserved only through strong public pressure.

“Last year was not a breakthrough. We witnessed attempts to undermine the independence of the anti-corruption system during wartime. This point is not a political victory, it is the result of society’s resistance, which kept the country from straying off its democratic path,” Andrii Borovyk said.

Transparency International Ukraine calls on the authorities to take six priority steps in 2026, including:

1. Safeguard the independence of anti-corruption institutions. 
2. Improve outcomes in corruption cases, especially in freezing and confiscating illicit assets.
3. Enhance the institutional capacity and focus of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention.
4. Update legislation to ensure swift, high-quality justice.
5. Expand the involvement of international experts in the selection commission for appointing HQCJ members.
6. Adopt an Anti-Corruption Strategy and a State Anti-Corruption Program. 

The CPI 2025 result indicates minimal progress amid a slowdown in systemic anti-corruption reform. One additional point does not offset the lack of comprehensive government action and creates a risk of declining trust. The 2026 trajectory will directly depend on the state’s ability to move from reactive steps to a consistent anti-corruption policy.

Background: The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is a ranking calculated by the global organization Transparency International since 1995, based on 13 assessments by reputable international institutions. This year, Ukraine was evaluated on 8 of them, covering January 2023 through September 2025. Because of methodological constraints, many important developments, including the high-profile “Midas Case” investigation, are not reflected in this study.