Brazil Stagnates at 107th Place in 2025 Corruption Perception Index Amid Ongoing Institutional Challenges

Brazil has maintained its low position in the 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) published by Transparency International, scoring 35 out of 100 and ranking 107th among 182 evaluated countries. This score marks the country's second-worst performance historically and reflects stagnation compared to 2024's 34 points, with the one-point difference being statistically insignificant.

The CPI aggregates up to 13 independent indicators assessing corruption perception in the public sector, and for Brazil, eight indicators were utilized. Despite some progress in specific anti-corruption efforts, Brazil remains well below the global average score of 42, highlighting persistent macro-corruption and institutional weaknesses.

Bruno Brandão, executive director of Transparency International - Brazil, attributes the stagnation to "generalized impunity" and criticizes the federal government, the National Congress, and Judiciary. Brandão points out that the Lula administration has made strides in combating money laundering but has faltered in controlling regulatory agencies. Additionally, recent legislative changes have diluted anti-corruption mechanisms, such as the relaxation of Brazil's Clean Record Law allowing certain convicted politicians to return to electoral races earlier.

High-profile corruption cases contribute to this bleak outlook: notable examples include the Master Bank fraud scandal—the largest in Brazil—and misuse of parliamentary amendments. Though the Federal Police's Operation Carbono Oculto targeting organized crime within financial systems is a positive development, challenges remain across political and judicial spheres.

Brandão emphasizes the need to resume a consistent anti-corruption agenda, recommending improved integrity in government appointments, transparent investigations into political corruption, and stronger judicial conduct codes. He notes that Brazil attracted international attention both for the Supreme Court's firm stance against outbursts targeting democracy and for ongoing corruption and impunity scandals.

Globally, the leading countries in the CPI are Denmark (89 points), Finland (88), and Singapore (84), while Somalia and South Sudan occupy the lowest ranks with 9 points each. Brazil shares its score with Sri Lanka and is near countries like Argentina and Ukraine, both scoring slightly higher.

In summary, despite isolated advances, Brazil's corruption perception remains troublingly static, underlining entrenched challenges in governance and institutional effectiveness that will require concerted effort to overcome.