Libya ranks among worst in global corruption index
Libya has been ranked among the most corrupt nations in the world, as reported by the Libya Review and agencies on February 10th.
A new global assessment paints a bleak picture of the country’s governance standards, placing it near the very bottom of the international table once again.
According to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International, Libya ranks 177th out of 182 countries and territories, earning a score of just 13 out of 100. The result reflects persistent shortcomings in public-sector integrity, oversight, and anti-corruption enforcement.
Libya’s poor showing in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index comes amid mounting public frustration with the Government of National Unity’s entrenched corruption and economic mismanagement.
Allegations of graft within key state institutions, including the health and telecommunications sectors, have intensified scrutiny of political elites and fuelled national concerns over the misuse of public resources.
Reports of financial losses, prosecutions of senior officials, and long-standing concerns over fuel smuggling have further deepened scepticism about the government’s commitment to accountability.
In this climate, the country’s low CPI ranking is likely to reinforce public anger and strengthen demands for greater transparency and institutional reform.
The index, widely regarded as one of the leading global measures of perceived public-sector corruption, shows Libya trailing most of the Middle East and North Africa region.
Alongside Syria and Yemen, the country remains mired in systemic corruption fuelled by prolonged political instability, internal fragmentation and weakened state institutions.
In recent weeks, protestors have taken to the streets across Libya to demonstrate against worsening living conditions and economic stagnation.
Transparency International linked Libya’s performance to continuing conflict, political rivalries and fragile infrastructure. These pressures, the organisation stated, have pushed transparency and accountability down the list of national priorities, creating fertile ground for corruption within state bodies.
The findings also point to broader regional stagnation. Many countries across the Middle East and North Africa have recorded little meaningful progress in tackling corruption.
Weak political will, underpowered oversight mechanisms, and a narrowing civic space were identified as key obstacles that enabled the abuse of power to persist.
First introduced in 1995, the CPI evaluates 182 countries and territories using expert assessments and business surveys, drawing on 13 international data sources, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
Libya Review and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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