Uzbekistan has fallen to 124th place, scoring 31 points in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). These results were published in the annual report by the international organization Transparency International, Gazeta.uz reports.
Uzbekistan’s performance has declined for the second consecutive year following a decade of steady progress. Experts note that despite official reforms, the harassment of journalists and bloggers continues to undermine the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts.
Regional Situation: Central Asia and CIS
The report provides a comparative look at corruption levels across the region:
- Regional Leaders: Georgia (50 points), Armenia (46).
- The Middle Tier: Kazakhstan (38), Kyrgyzstan (26). Both countries show increased pressure on civil society through tightened legislation regarding NGOs.
- Outliers: Russia (22), Tajikistan (19), Turkmenistan (17).
Global Trends
For the first time in a decade, the global average score has dropped to 42 points. Corruption is rising even in established democracies (USA, UK, Sweden) amid weakening political will among leaders.
Top Performers and Bottom Scorers:
- Denmark (89) – Ranked first for the eighth consecutive year.
- Top 5: Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Norway.
- Bottom 3: Venezuela, Somalia, and South Sudan (scoring between 9–10).
The report's authors emphasize a direct correlation between rising corruption and the restriction of free speech: in 36 countries where CPI scores fell significantly, a corresponding shrinkage of civic space was observed.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
February 11, 2026