Burundi remains among the lower-ranked countries in the East African Community (EAC) in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), highlighting ongoing governance challenges.
The global index, released Tuesday, ranks 182 countries on perceived public-sector corruption, scoring from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Burundi’s score reflects continued concerns about transparency, oversight, and accountability in government institutions.
“Corruption continues to pose one of the greatest threats to development and public confidence in government,” Transparency International said in its report. “Declining leadership is undermining the global fight against corruption.”
Within the EAC, Rwanda recorded the region’s highest score with 58 out of 100, ranking 41st globally, while Tanzania scored 40 (84th globally) and Kenya scored 30 (130th globally). Uganda scored 25 (148th) and Burundi scored 17 (167th), placing both among the lower performing states, the report shows. The Democratic Republic of Congo scored 20 (163rd) in the index. Experts say weaknesses in public administration, law enforcement, and political finance contribute to persistent challenges.
Governance analysts in Bujumbura note some progress. “Burundi has strengthened anti-corruption institutions and legal frameworks in recent years,” said Jean-Paul Ndayizeye, a governance researcher. “But implementation gaps and limited independence of oversight bodies continue to affect results.”
The CPI is based on expert assessments and business surveys measuring corruption in government agencies, the judiciary, and public procurement. Globally, the average score fell to 42, the lowest in over a decade, with most countries scoring below 50.
Over the past decade, Burundi’s performance in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has remained low, reflecting persistent governance and public-sector challenges. In the 2023 CPI, Burundi scored 20 out of 100, ranking 162nd out of 180 countries.
The following year, in 2024, the score declined to 17, and the country slipped to 165th place, signaling a worsening perception of corruption in public institutions. (Transparency International) Historically, Burundi’s CPI scores have fluctuated within a narrow range, with the highest recorded score of 25 in 2007 and lows of 17 in 2018 and again in 2024.
While the country has taken steps to strengthen anti-corruption frameworks and oversight institutions, these efforts have not yet translated into sustained improvements in perceived integrity. Overall, Burundi remains one of the lower-ranked countries within the East African region.
