Taipei: Taiwan has achieved a significant milestone by ranking 24th in Transparency International's 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), its best performance to date. The Agency Against Corruption (AAC) announced this improvement, highlighting Taiwan's progress in governance and anti-corruption measures.

According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan's rise in the rankings reflects its ability to outperform 86 percent of the 182 countries and territories assessed. The AAC, under the Ministry of Justice, emphasized Taiwan's growing reputation as a clean country, which is supported by international recognition of its robust governance and anti-corruption initiatives.

The AAC has committed to continuing the implementation of President Lai Ching-te's governance principles. This includes enhancing anti-corruption systems, risk monitoring, and oversight. The agency plans to collaborate with both domestic and international partners to further promote clean governance and bolster Taiwan's international credibility.

The latest report indicates that Taiwan scored 68 points on a 0-100 scale, where 0 signifies high corruption and 100 represents cleanliness. Taiwan shares the 24th position with Barbados and Seychelles. Leading the 2025 rankings is Denmark with 89 points, followed by Finland with 88, Singapore with 84, and both New Zealand and Norway tied at 81. The global average score stands at 42.

Transparency International compiles the CPI using at least three data sources from 13 different corruption surveys and assessments. Reputable institutions, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum, provide these data sources, as noted by Transparency International.

Founded in 1993, Transparency International aims to "stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability, and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society," as stated on its official website. However, the 2025 report does not specify the factors influencing Taiwan's improved ranking.