Rabat – Morocco placed 91st out of 182 countries in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 39 out of 100, according to Transparency International’s report.
The index measures perceived levels of corruption in the public sector. Countries receive a score between 0 and 100. A higher score reflects lower perceived corruption, while a lower score signals deeper concerns over public integrity and accountability.
How the index measures corruption
Transparency International bases its ranking on several indicators. These include the misuse of public funds, abuse of public office for private gain, nepotism, excessive bureaucracy that may open the door to corrupt practices, and the ability of governments to control corruption within state institutions.
The report also draws attention to the broader environment in which corruption develops. Restrictions imposed on civil society, journalists, NGOs, and whistleblowers increase the risk of abuse of power. When oversight weakens, accountability suffers, and corruption finds space to grow.
A decade of fluctuation
Morocco’s current score marks a slight improvement compared to 2024, when the country received 37 points. However, the result remains below the 50-point mark, a threshold that Transparency International says countries pass if they have stronger public-sector integrity.
Over the past decade, Morocco reached its highest score in 2018 with 43 points. The figure dropped to 41 in 2019 and 40 in 2020.
It fell further to 39 in 2021, then to 38 in 2022 and 2023, before reaching 37 in 2024. The 2025 result suggests modest recovery, yet it does not signal a decisive shift.
The overall trajectory shows instability rather than steady reform. While the country avoids the lowest ranks globally, progress remains fragile.
Regional context in MENA
The report notes that corruption continues to pose serious challenges across the Middle East and North Africa. Since 2012, only a few countries in the region have seen notable decline, and none have achieved significant long-term improvement.
Transparency International describes the situation as a persistent failure among many governments to confront corruption effectively. Weak accountability mechanisms and fragile institutions limit reform efforts. Promises to address the issue often lack sustained follow-through.
Within the Arab world, Morocco ranks eighth. It stands behind the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. In the Maghreb, Morocco shares the top regional position with Tunisia. Algeria ranks 109th worldwide, Mauritania 130th, and Libya near the bottom at 177th.
Global picture
At the top of the global ranking, Denmark leads, followed by Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany.
At the lower end, Yemen, Venezuela, Somalia, and South Sudan record some of the weakest scores.
Transparency International warns that corruption remains a serious global threat. The organization calls on political leaders to confront abuse of power and address deeper structural issues, including weakened democratic institutions and pressure on civil society.
For Morocco, the 2025 index offers a mixed message. The country avoids further decline, yet the score confirms that durable reform remains unfinished.