Rwanda has improved its position in global anti-corruption efforts, rising two places to rank 41st worldwide in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International Rwanda.
The country scored 58 percent, up from 57 percent and 43rd place in 2024, according to the annual index, which assesses perceptions of public sector corruption in 182 countries.
At the continental level, Rwanda ranked third in Africa, behind Seychelles, which scored 68 percent, and Cabo Verde with 62 percent. Rwanda tied with Botswana, which also ranked 41st globally with the same score.
Transparency International Rwanda noted that Rwanda’s performance has shown a steady upward trend, gaining seven percentage points between 2022 and 2025, reflecting sustained progress in anti-corruption and governance reforms.
Despite Rwanda’s improvement, the report highlights ongoing challenges across Sub-Saharan Africa, where the regional average score remains low at 32 percent. Only four of the region’s 49 countries scored above 50 percent.
Presenting the findings, Apollinaire Mupiganyi, Executive Director of Transparency International Rwanda, said corruption continues to undermine citizens’ welfare and economic development. He pointed to Seychelles as an example of what can be achieved with strong political will and effective institutions.
He said that while Rwanda continues to make progress, the country has not yet reached its long-term ambition of becoming a global leader in the fight against corruption by 2050.
Mupiganyi cautioned that corruption is not only a challenge for low-scoring countries, noting that even high-performing nations must remain vigilant to avoid becoming conduits for corrupt practices.
Chief Ombudsman Madeleine Nirere described the index as a credible benchmark for Rwanda, saying it reflects both institutional performance and public trust in governance systems. She added that eradicating corruption is a long-term process that requires continuous reforms and sustained leadership across public institutions.
Nirere noted that Rwanda’s commitment to good governance and transparency is rooted in its history and aligned with the country’s Vision 2050 development goals.
Globally, Denmark topped the 2025 index with a score of 89 percent, followed by Finland at 88 percent and Singapore at 84 percent. The lowest-ranked countries were Venezuela, Somalia, and South Sudan.
