Most and Least Corrupt EU Countries

Key Takeaways

• Denmark ranks first globally for the eighth consecutive year. Its score of 89 reflects consistent judicial transparency and strong enforcement of anti-corruption rules.
• Hungary and Bulgaria share the EU’s lowest score at 40. Hungary’s low score stems from years of democratic backsliding that weakened judicial independence and restricted civil society.
• Spain recorded the sharpest long-term decline of any EU country since 2012. Its score fell 10 points over that period due to persistent enforcement gaps and growing collusion risks between officials and private interests.
• The EU’s average corruption score fell to 64 in 2025. It is the lowest the regional average has reached since comparable scoring began in 2012.
• Estonia ranks in the global top 15. Its score of 76 stems from a decade of investment in digital public services, open government reforms, and anti-corruption institutions.
• Greece has improved more than any other EU country since 2012. Its score rose 14 points to reach 50. Measurable progress on judicial reform explains most of the gain.

Corruption Perceptions Index Rankings for EU Countries

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The EU is the world’s least corrupt region. Its 2025 average corruption score just hit a 13-year low.

The Corruption Perceptions Index scores 182 countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

Northern EU Countries Rank Among the Least Corrupt in the World

Denmark scores 89 and ranks first globally for the eighth consecutive year. Finland scores 88. Both countries maintain high scores through consistent judicial transparency, public procurement oversight, and enforcement of anti-corruption rules.

Six more EU countries score above 70: Sweden (80), Luxembourg (78), the Netherlands (78), Germany (77), Estonia (76), and Ireland (76). All sit in the global top 20. Estonia stands out within this group. It ranks in the global top 15 and is the highest-ranking former Soviet state in the EU. Its score rose steadily over the past decade through investment in digital public services and anti-corruption institutions.

Spain Records the Steepest Corruption Score Drop of Any EU Country Since 2012

In 2025, Spain’s corruption score reached 55. It has decreased by 10 points since 2012. No EU member state fell further over the same period.

Two structural failures explain the decline.

• Spain still lacks a national anti-corruption strategy, despite being legally required to adopt one by September 2024.
• It lacks solid legislation on conflicts of interest. This leaves enforcement gaps that allow collusion between officials and private interests to go unchecked.

France (66) and Malta (49) follow the same downward trajectory. Both countries have launched national anti-corruption plans in response, as has Spain. Whether those plans produce results depends on implementation.

Eastern Europe Has the EU’s Worst Corruption Scores

Most Eastern EU countries score below the EU average, but the region is not uniform.

Estonia (76), Lithuania (65), and Latvia (60) all raised their scores over the past decade. All three invested in digital public services, open government reforms, and anti-corruption institutions. They now outperform several Western EU countries in the ranking.

The rest of Eastern Europe scores below 50. A score below 50 indicates serious corruption problems:

• Hungary: 40
• Bulgaria: 40
• Romania: 45
• Croatia: 47
• Slovakia: 48

Hungary and Bulgaria share the EU’s lowest score. Hungary’s score reflects years of democratic backsliding that weakened judicial independence and restricted civil society. Slovakia has weakened whistleblower protections and scaled back investigations into senior officials.

Greece and Czech Republic Reduced Corruption More Than Any Other EU Country Since 2012

Not every trend points downward. In 2025, Greece’s corruption score reaches 50. It has increased by 14 points since 2012. It is the biggest gain of any EU member state over that period. The Czech Republic climbed 10 points to reach 59. Both countries made measurable progress on judicial reform and anti-corruption enforcement.

Overall, the EU’s average corruption score fell from 66 to 64 in 2025. Thirteen countries recorded significant declines. Only seven improved. The global average sits at 42, which means even the EU’s weakest members sit near the worldwide midpoint. The internal gap is wide. By global standards, the EU still clusters at the cleaner end of the corruption index.