By Trendsetter Tribune 
The United States has reached its lowest-ever ranking in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), falling to 29th place out of 182 countries as of February 10, 2026. This record drop places the U.S. alongside the Bahamas and behind nations such as Lithuania, Barbados, and Uruguay, reflecting what experts describe as a dangerous erosion of institutional integrity.+1
The U.S. Decline by the Numbers
The CPI measures perceived public-sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The U.S. score has been sliding for a decade, hitting a new floor this year.+1
- Current Score: 64 (down from a high of 75 in 2017).
- Current Rank: 29th (tied with the Bahamas).
- Global Average: The world average also hit a new low of 42, indicating a global deterioration in governance.
Transparency International CEO Maíra Martini expressed grave concern Tuesday, noting that “actions targeting independent voices and undermining judicial independence” are driving the downward trend. Specifically, the report cited the weakening of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the “gutting” of federal oversight as key factors.+1
The Mandelson Scandal: A Crisis for the UK
The global corruption report comes as the United Kingdom faces its own political earthquake. The UK’s score dropped to 70 (20th place), driven by a criminal investigation into former government minister Lord Peter Mandelson.
| Case Detail | Investigation Status |
| The Allegation | Mandelson is accused of passing market-sensitive government documents to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during the 2008-2010 financial crisis. |
| Evidence | Emails released by the U.S. DOJ show Mandelson confirming a €500 billion eurozone bailout to Epstein the day before it was announced. |
| The Fallout | Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the acts “disgraceful.” Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2026, amid a Met Police investigation for misconduct in public office. |
Global Leaders and “Dirty Money”
While Denmark (89), Finland (88), and Singapore (84) topped the list as the “cleanest” nations, Transparency International warned that even top-tier countries face scrutiny.
- Western Vulnerability: Major democracies like the UK and Canada are seeing their lowest scores on record.
- The “Dirty Money” Loophole: High-ranking nations like Switzerland and Singapore were criticized for their private sectors, which often facilitate the movement of illicit funds from more corrupt regimes.
- The Bottom of the List: Somalia (9), South Sudan (9), and Venezuela (10) remain the most corrupt perceived nations globally.
The report concludes that without a significant “recalibration” of judicial independence and a crackdown on “big money” influence, the trend of democratic decline is likely to persist through 2026.