International Anti‑Corruption Day 2025 — Date, Theme, India’s CPI Rank & Global Corruption List

Every year, December 9 is observed as International Anti‑Corruption Day, a global initiative led by the United Nations to raise awareness about corruption and its harmful impact on governance, development, and society. For 2025, the focus is on empowering young people under the theme “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.”

Corruption – defined as the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain – weakens institutions, slows growth, and erodes trust in public systems. By dedicating a day to collective awareness, the world acknowledges that transparency and accountability are pillars of a fair society.

What is International Anti‑Corruption Day?

The United Nations designated 9 December as International Anti‑Corruption Day in 2003. The day commemorates the adoption of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), a legally binding instrument encouraging nations to prevent and combat corruption.

For students, administrators, businesses, and citizens, the day serves as a reminder that integrity isn’t optional — it is essential for progress. Workshops, rallies, seminars, essays, debates, and awareness campaigns are held across countries to promote ethical conduct.

International Anti‑Corruption Day 2025 Date

International Anti‑Corruption Day is observed every year on December 9, and in 2025 it falls on a Tuesday. The permanent date represents a symbolic global stance — a unified message that corruption harms everyone, and fighting it requires collective effort.

Theme of International Anti‑Corruption Day 2025

The official theme for 2025 is,

• “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.”

This reflects the rising role of young citizens, student networks, tech innovators, and youth‑led governance movements. By promoting ethical behaviour among youth, nations invest in a culture of fairness for future leadership.

Why the Day Matters — Context and Significance

Corruption directly affects,

• Economic growth
• Justice delivery systems
• Public service delivery
• Trust in governance

It leads to inequality, weak law enforcement, lack of opportunities, and diversion of public funds meant for development. The observance day emphasises that anti‑corruption efforts must move beyond punishment — they must build awareness, prevention, and citizen participation.

World Corruption List 2025 (Based on CPI 2024 Scores)

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) evaluates 180 countries on perceived public sector corruption. Scores range from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt).

Least Corrupt Nations 2025

• Denmark — 90
• Finland — 88
• Singapore — 84
• New Zealand — 83
• Luxembourg — 81
• Norway — 81
• Switzerland — 81
• Sweden — 80
• Netherlands — 78
• Australia — 77
• Iceland — 77
• Ireland — 77

These countries represent robust transparency systems, mature institutions, and strict legal frameworks.

Most Corrupt Nations 2025

• South Sudan — 8
• Somalia — 9
• Venezuela — 10
• Syria — 12
• Equatorial Guinea — 13
• Eritrea — 13
• Libya — 13
• Yemen — 13
• Nicaragua — 14
• North Korea — 15
• Sudan — 15

These rankings highlight fragile governance, conflict, limited accountability, and weak democratic systems.

India’s Rank on the Corruption Perceptions Index

India scored 38/100 on the 2024 CPI and ranked 96th out of 180 countries.

This reflects ongoing concerns about bureaucratic delays, opaque procedures, and misuse of authority. However, India’s reforms show progress,

• Digital governance in public services
• Direct benefit transfers
• Online payment ecosystems
• Anti‑corruption legislation and vigilance bodies
• International Anti‑Corruption Day encourages deeper reforms and public participation to reduce leakages and strengthen ethical public administration.

Corruption Perceptions Index — Static Information

• Published by: Transparency International
• First released: 1995
• Earlier scoring: 10 (clean) to 0 (corrupt)
• Revised scale since 2012: 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt)
• Sources include expert analyses and opinion surveys

The CPI remains a key global benchmark widely used by governance studies, competitive exam aspirants, policymakers, and research institutions.

How Nations Observe International Anti‑Corruption Day

Activities include,

• Integrity pledges
• School campaigns and essay writing
• Debates and thematic rallies
• Seminars by government departments
• Training sessions for officials
• NGO awareness drives

A major focus is shifting conversations from blame to responsibility and participation.

Why Youth are Central to 2025 Theme

The 2025 theme underscores,

• Youth as torchbearers of ethical governance
• The need for awareness in schools and institutions
• Strengthening democratic values through education and civic engagement
• Encouraging whistle‑blowing, transparency, and community vigilance
• With rising digital literacy, youth can become strong watchdogs against corruption.

Key Takeaways

• International Anti‑Corruption Day is observed every year on 9 December.
• 2025 theme: “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.”
• Denmark, Finland, and Singapore rank among the least corrupt nations.
• South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela rank among the most corrupt.
• India ranks 96th globally with a score of 38/100.
• The day promotes awareness, transparency, youth activism, and ethical behaviour.
• CPI is published annually by Transparency International to measure perceptions of public sector corruption.