On February 10, Transparency International released its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Cambodia ranked 163rd among the 182 countries and territories assessed, scoring 20 points, down slightly from 21 in 2024 and remaining near the bottom globally.
The report said Singapore performed best in Asia, ranking third worldwide with 84 points and remaining among the leading countries for perceived public-sector integrity. The global average score in 2025 was 42, with more than two-thirds of countries scoring below 50. Over the past decade or more, only 31 countries had made substantial progress in reducing corruption; most countries' anti-corruption governance had delivered limited results, while some had stagnated or regressed.
Transparency International stressed that rising corruption risks were not confined to traditionally high-risk countries. Some higher-ranked countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, New Zealand and Chile, also faced growing risks because of weakened oversight and checks on power, legal loopholes and inadequate enforcement. Globally, Venezuela, North Korea and Eritrea remained among the countries with the most severe corruption problems.
Although Cambodia ranked above countries such as North Korea, Syria and Turkmenistan, it remained near the bottom globally, reflecting significant continuing challenges in anti-corruption governance and institutional development.
