Top 10 Most Corrupt Countries In Europe 2025

When we think of corruption, images of explicit bribery and overt government malfeasance in developing nations often come to mind. However, corruption in Europe is often more nuanced and institutionalized. It manifests as state capture, where private interests significantly influence state decision-making; clientelism, where political support is exchanged for public resources; and high-level graft that erodes public trust and stifles economic growth.

This list is based on projections from the most recent **Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)** by Transparency International, combined with current political trajectories, EU reports, and ongoing geopolitical events. The CPI ranks countries on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). It’s crucial to note that even the “most corrupt” countries in Europe often score significantly higher than many nations in other regions, reflecting the continent’s relatively strong institutions. However, significant problems persist, and for the citizens of these countries, the impact on daily life and economic opportunity is very real.

The following list projects the ten European countries expected to have the lowest scores on the 2025 CPI, indicating the highest levels of perceived public sector corruption.

The Transparency Deficit: Europe’s Most Corrupt Countries in 2025

1. Russia

CPI Score Projection: 25-30
Primary Issues: State Capture, Kleptocracy, Lack of Rule of Law

Russia is projected to remain not only the most corrupt country in Europe but also one of the most corrupt globally. The system under Vladimir Putin is a quintessential example of a **kleptocracy**, where the ruling class systematically uses political power to appropriate national wealth. Corruption is not a flaw in the system; it *is* the system.

State-owned enterprises like Rosneft and Gazprom are effectively used as slush funds for the elite. The war in Ukraine has both highlighted and exacerbated this corruption, with massive opportunities for graft in military procurement and the evasion of international sanctions. With a completely subservient judiciary, no independent media, and the persecution of anti-corruption activists like the late Alexei Navalny, there are no domestic mechanisms left to challenge the deeply entrenched culture of corruption. This is expected to continue unabated through 2025.

2. Ukraine

CPI Score Projection: 33-38**
Primary Issues: Historical Oligarchic Influence, Wartime Corruption**

Ukraine presents a complex and critical case. Since the Euromaidan revolution in 2014, the country has made genuine and commendable efforts to fight corruption, establishing new institutions like the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC). However, the scale of the challenge is monumental, rooted in decades of post-Soviet oligarchic control.

The full-scale invasion by Russia in 2022 created a double-edged sword. On one hand, it has galvanized a national spirit and increased demand for clean governance. On the other, the influx of hundreds of billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid, coupled with the urgent need for military procurement, has created significant new opportunities for corruption. The government of Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently taken strong steps, including high-profile dismissals, to address this. The fight against corruption is existential for Ukraine, both for its moral victory and its EU accession hopes, but it remains an uphill battle for 2025.

3. Azerbaijan

CPI Score Projection: 35-40
Primary Issues: Cronyism, Oil & Gas Wealth Mismanagement, Authoritarianism

Azerbaijan is a petrostate where vast energy wealth is concentrated in the hands of a very small elite, led by the Aliyev family. The country is a textbook example of the “resource curse,” where oil and gas revenues fuel corruption and stifle other economic sectors while allowing the government to avoid public accountability.

The ruling family and their associates control major segments of the economy through a complex web of offshore companies, as revealed by the Pandora Papers. There is no political opposition or independent judiciary to provide checks and balances. Furthermore, its strategic role as a gas supplier to Europe has, at times, shielded it from greater international scrutiny regarding its governance. This structure of systemic corruption is deeply entrenched and unlikely to change by 2025.

4. Belarus

CPI Score Projection: 35-40
Primary Issues: Autocratic Control, Lack of Transparency, Sanctions

As Europe’s “last dictatorship,” Belarus under Alexander Lukashenko operates a Soviet-style command economy where the state controls all major enterprises. Corruption is endemic at all levels, from high-level officials skimming from state-owned industries to low-level bureaucrats demanding bribes for basic services.

The political crisis following the fraudulent 2020 election and the country’s role as a Russian satellite in the war against Ukraine have led to crippling international sanctions. This has further crippled the economy and pushed it into Russia’s orbit, where transparency is negligible. The regime’s survival depends on rewarding its inner circle with economic privileges, ensuring that state resources are funneled to loyalists, a system that will persist through 2025.

5. Turkey

CPI Score Projection: 38-43
Primary Issues: Erosion of Institutions, Cronyism, Economic Instability

Under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has seen a dramatic erosion of democratic institutions that are vital for combating corruption. The judiciary has lost its independence, and the government has systematically targeted independent media and civil society.

This has fostered an environment of **cronyism**, where government contracts in construction and other sectors are often awarded to pro-government businesses. The profound economic crisis, characterized by hyperinflation and a collapsing currency, is both a cause and a consequence of this corruption. With power heavily centralized and no effective oversight, corruption is expected to remain rampant in 2025.

6. Bosnia and Herzegovina

CPI Score Projection: 40-45
Primary Issues: Ethnically Divided Politics, Clientelism, State Fragility

Corruption in Bosnia is deeply woven into its complex political framework, established by the Dayton Peace Agreement. The country’s divided structure along ethnic lines (Bosniak, Serb, and Croat) has created a system where political parties function as patronage networks, distributing public jobs and resources to their ethnic constituents in exchange for votes.

This institutionalized **clientelism** makes meaningful reform nearly impossible, as any change is perceived as a loss for one ethnic group and a gain for another. Public administration is bloated with political appointees, and corruption in sectors like healthcare and education is commonplace. EU integration talks have stalled, removing a key incentive for reform, suggesting little progress by 2025.

7. Albania

CPI Score Projection: 42-47
Primary Issues: Organized Crime, Judicial Corruption, State Capture

Albania’s corruption problems are deeply linked to organized crime, particularly drug trafficking. There is a history of close ties between politicians, business figures, and criminal networks. While Albania is an EU candidate country and has undertaken some judicial reforms mandated by the EU, the implementation has been slow and results are mixed.

High-level corruption and state capture remain significant problems. The EU has repeatedly cited corruption and organized crime as the primary obstacles to membership. While there is a desire for reform, the political will to tackle the powerful interests that benefit from the current system is inconsistent, making significant improvement by 2025 unlikely.

8. North Macedonia

CPI Score Projection: 45-50
Primary Issues: Political Patronage, Judicial Inefficiency

Similar to its Balkan neighbors, North Macedonia struggles with political patronage and a judiciary that is susceptible to political influence. Governments have historically used control over public sector jobs and contracts to reward loyalists, a practice that stifles meritocracy and fuels corruption.

The country’s EU accession process has been a powerful driver for anti-corruption reforms, leading to some improvements. However, progress is often slow and met with political resistance. The stability of the government and its continued commitment to the EU path will be the determining factors in whether it can improve its score by 2025.

9. Moldova

CPI Score Projection: 45-50
Primary Issues: Oligarchic Influence, Judicial Corruption

Moldova’s corruption is famously tied to the “theft of the century” – a $1 billion bank fraud in 2014 that drained the national economy. While the current pro-European government under Maia Sandu has made fighting corruption its top priority, the legacy of oligarchic control is difficult to overcome.

Reforms to the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies are underway, and there is strong support from the EU. However, the system is still plagued by judges and prosecutors with ties to the old guard. The next few years will be a critical test of whether Sandu’s government can successfully dismantle the entrenched networks of corruption, making its 2025 trajectory a key one to watch.

10. Serbia

CPI Score Projection: 45-50
Primary Issues: State Capture, Media Control, Weak Institutions

Despite being an EU candidate country, Serbia has seen a concerning backslide in democratic freedoms and the rule of law under President Aleksandar Vučić. The government exercises tight control over the media and the judiciary, creating an environment where corruption can flourish without scrutiny.

The line between the state and the ruling party is blurred, with public resources and appointments used to maintain political power. Major infrastructure projects are often awarded to friendly tycoons without transparent bidding processes. As long as the government prioritizes centralized control over EU-mandated reforms, significant improvements in corruption are unlikely by 2025.

Conclusion: A Persistent Challenge

The persistence of corruption in Europe, particularly in its eastern and southeastern regions, highlights a sobering reality: it is a deeply resilient phenomenon. It thrives in environments where:

Institutions are weak: An independent judiciary, free press, and strong civil society are essential bulwarks against corruption.
Power is concentrated: Autocracy and state capture go hand-in-hand.
Conflict and instability reign: War and political crisis create opportunities for graft and weaken oversight.

For the countries on this list, the path forward is challenging but clear. The strongest external driver for reform remains the prospect of European Union membership, which demands rigorous anti-corruption measures. Internally, it requires sustained political will and pressure from citizens who are increasingly demanding accountable and transparent governance. While some, like Ukraine and Moldova, are in the midst of a fierce fight, others appear to be moving in the opposite direction, ensuring that corruption will remain a defining issue for the continent in 2025.