According to the Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, perceived corruption in Austria declined slightly in 2025. Austria scored 69 out of 100 points and ranked 21st, an improvement over the previous year. According to TI, a lasting stabilization is not yet in sight.
Bettina Knötzl of TI-Austria cites several factors behind the improvement. Key elements include the abolition of official secrecy and the new Freedom of Information Act, whose success depends on the transparency of state information. Positive developments also include the prosecution of corruption, better protection for whistleblowers, and efforts to establish an independent public prosecutor’s office. According to TI-Austria, these developments should continue to be promoted.
Corruption as a “structural problem” in Austria
Knötzl nevertheless warns against giving the all-clear, even if this represents “a positive signal.” Corruption remains a “structural problem in Austria that hampers economic development and undermines trust in state institutions.” Since 2019, Austria has lost eight points and nine positions in the ranking and therefore remains in the group of “decliners.” A negative trend is also emerging among the 27 EU member states and four additional Western European countries. After averaging 66 points for many years, the regional average has stagnated at 64 points since 2024.
At the top of the international ranking for the eighth consecutive year is the Scandinavian EU member Denmark with 89 points. It is followed by Finland, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Norway, each with more than 80 points. Five additional European countries—Sweden, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany—also appear in the top ten. Within the EU, Austria ranks in the top third, in ninth place. The EU’s lowest performer once again is Hungary with 40 points, ranking 88th worldwide. Among the 182 countries assessed, Somalia and South Sudan share last place.
More education on corruption demanded
To prevent corruption, TI-Austria calls for education on multiple fronts. More training for politicians as well as increased ethics education in schools are intended to raise awareness. Especially “in times of growing political polarization, geopolitical tensions, and increasing democratic strain,” institutions and integrity standards are “under particular pressure.”
The annually published ranking assesses perceptions of corruption in the public sector by experts and businesspeople in more than 180 countries. Data sources include 12 institutions, such as the Bertelsmann Foundation and the World Economic Forum. The index, which covers the past two years, captures various forms of corruption—for example bribery, misuse of public funds, or nepotism in public service. Measures to prevent corruption are also included in the assessment. A score of 0 indicates a very high level of perceived corruption, while the maximum score of 100 means no corruption is perceived.
