Despite repeated claims by the Taliban since 2021 that corruption, crime, and bribery have been eliminated under their rule, international data paints a sharply different picture.
According to Transparency International, Afghanistan remains among the world’s most corrupt countries in its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), with the country’s position deteriorating further compared to previous years.
Afghanistan Slips Further in Global Corruption Rankings
The 2025 CPI shows Afghanistan scoring just 16 out of 100, ranking 169th out of 182 countries. This marks a decline from 2024, when the country scored 17 points and ranked 165th. The downward trend has been consistent: Afghanistan scored 20 points in 2023 (162nd) and 24 points in 2022 (150th).
The Corruption Perceptions Index measures perceived public-sector corruption on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), based on assessments from experts and business communities worldwide.
Global Picture: Corruption Worsening Worldwide
Transparency International noted that, for the first time in over a decade, the global average CPI score fell to 42, signaling a broader decline in anti-corruption performance worldwide. Out of 182 countries, 122 scored below 50, highlighting widespread public-sector corruption.
Only five countries scored above 80 in 2025—Denmark, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Norway—down from 12 countries a decade ago. At the bottom of the index were South Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela, Yemen, and Libya.
Fragile States and Shrinking Civic Space
The report emphasizes that fragile and authoritarian systems, including Afghanistan under Taliban administration, remain especially vulnerable to corruption due to:
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Limited civic space
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Opaque political and financial systems
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Weak checks and balances
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Absence of independent judicial institutions
Transparency International also warned that countries restricting civil liberties often struggle to control corruption. Among the 50 countries with the steepest CPI declines, 36 have imposed restrictions on civil freedoms. More than 90 percent of journalists killed while investigating corruption were based in countries with low CPI scores.
Rising Security Concerns Under Taliban Rule
Beyond governance failures, security conditions have also worsened since the Taliban takeover of Kabul. Militancy originating from Afghan territory has increased, affecting not only Pakistan but also Tajikistan.
Pakistani authorities report that around 70 percent of recent militant attacks involved Afghan nationals or Afghan-based masterminds. High-profile incidents such as the Islamabad court attack and the Tarlai mosque attack were linked to Afghan citizens or networks operating from Afghanistan.
In Tajikistan, Afghan-linked militant activity has also drawn international concern. Last year, three Chinese nationals were targeted in drone attacks, prompting Tajik officials to publicly label Afghan-based militants as terrorists and criticize the Taliban for failing to prevent cross-border militancy.
Claims vs Reality
While the Taliban continue to project an image of strict Islamic governance and zero tolerance for corruption, international indices and regional security developments suggest otherwise. Transparency International has called on governments globally—especially those overseeing fragile states—to strengthen independent judicial systems, protect media freedom, ensure transparency in political financing, and curb cross-border illicit financial flows.
For Afghanistan, the latest CPI data underscores a growing gap between official narratives and on-the-ground realities—one marked by deepening corruption, restricted civic space, and escalating regional security risks.
