Full Breakdown
Taiwan Achieves Record Ranking in Corruption Perceptions Index 2025
2/11/2026, 6:17:23 AM
Taiwan's Progress in Global Corruption Rankings
Taiwan has achieved its highest-ever ranking in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), moving up to 24th place globally with a score of 68 out of 100. This marks a significant improvement, as Taiwan outperformed 86% of the 182 countries and territories assessed. The Agency Against Corruption (AAC) attributed this success to ongoing governance reforms and anti-corruption efforts under President William Lai (???). The AAC plans to continue strengthening anti-corruption systems and collaborating with both domestic and international partners to enhance Taiwan's credibility in governance.
Global Context and Comparisons
In the 2025 CPI, Denmark topped the rankings with 89 points, followed by Finland (88), Singapore (84), and New Zealand and Norway (81). The global average score fell to 42, the lowest in over a decade, with 122 countries scoring below 50. Notably, the United States scored 64, marking its lowest performance since the index adopted its current methodology in 2012, and ranked 29th. The report highlighted a concerning trend of declining scores in established democracies, including Canada (75), the UK (70), and France (66).
Criticism and Challenges
Despite Taiwan's positive ranking, the CPI report raised alarms about global governance issues, noting that many countries are experiencing a decline in anti-corruption measures. The report emphasized that the use of public office to suppress independent voices, such as NGOs and journalists, poses a significant threat to transparency. It also pointed out that U.S. aid cuts to civil society organizations have undermined global anti-corruption efforts, allowing political leaders in various countries to further restrict independent scrutiny.
Official Statements and Responses
The AAC expressed its commitment to implementing President Lai's governance principles, focusing on risk monitoring and oversight to promote clean governance. Transparency International's report underscored that while Taiwan's ranking is commendable, the global landscape remains fraught with challenges, particularly in democracies where corruption is perceived to be worsening.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
While Taiwan's CPI score reflects a positive trend, the report did not specify the exact factors contributing to its ranking. Additionally, the global decline in anti-corruption measures raises questions about the sustainability of Taiwan's achievements in the context of broader international trends.
What's Next for Taiwan
Moving forward, Taiwan aims to reinforce its anti-corruption frameworks and maintain its upward trajectory in governance. The AAC's ongoing collaboration with international partners will be crucial in addressing the challenges posed by global corruption trends and ensuring that Taiwan remains a leader in transparency and accountability.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Taiwan remains among the top tier of globally perceived clean countries, with an upward trend reflecting continued international recognition of the nation’s governance and anti-corruption efforts, it added.” — Agency Against Corruption
- “The 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index shows that corruption remains a serious threat in every part of the world, although there are limited signs of progress.” — Transparency International
This comprehensive overview of Taiwan's performance in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index highlights both its achievements and the challenges that lie ahead in the global fight against corruption.
