Australia falls from top 10 in Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index
13 February 2026
)
Transparency International has released its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2025, highlighting declining leadership globally as a key contributor to the worst overall results in more than a decade. The CPI measures perceived levels of public‑sector corruption and abuses of power.
Key takeaways from this year’s report include:
Australia’s score of 76 out of 100, while consistent, has seen it drop out of the top 10 after re‑entering last year for the first time since 2016.
The decline in Australia’s score follows a number of high‑profile public scandals, including allegations of MPs’ misuse of travel entitlements and allegations that government‑funded contracts in Nauru were directed towards motorcycle gangs.
Australia’s strategic allies, the UK and the US, recorded their lowest scores in history which signals a worrying trend internationally following significantly-reduced enforcement activity.
While the CPI focuses on perceived public‑sector corruption, we continue to observe corruption risks across both the public and private sectors. The fact that corrupt conduct is still primarily detected through tip‑offs underscores the importance of robust, independent reporting channels. This is reinforced by ASIC’s recently released whistleblowing benchmarking report, which highlighted significant variability in the maturity and effectiveness of whistleblower programs across corporate Australia.
Accordingly, organisations must remain vigilant and ensure that their systems to prevent, detect and respond to corruption are effectively implemented, well understood and regularly pressure‑tested.
There is an expectation that further government reforms will help improve the domestic corruption landscape, particularly those aimed at strengthening whistleblower protections. However, the CPI results should also serve as a clear signal to organisations that vigilance is required in all dealings, both domestically and abroad. Silence does not mean you do not have a problem.