The CPI, published by Transparency International, shows a continuous decline for Portugal since 2015, with its score dropping to 57 on a scale where 0 indicates high corruption and 100 indicates high integrity.

The findings, released on February 11, 2025, emphasize the urgent need for reforms to address corruption issues in Portugal.

Margarida Mano, president of Transparency International Portugal, highlighted that the results reflect reputational damage due to ineffective anti-corruption actions and unaddressed structural problems.

This decline is attributed to perceived abuse of public positions for private gain, weaknesses in public integrity mechanisms, and ineffective anti-corruption measures.

Challenges contributing to this decline include weak enforcement of anti-corruption laws, lack of transparency in party financing, nepotism, and political favoritism.

There are calls for enhanced transparency and scrutiny in the public sector, regulation of lobbying, and increased funding and autonomy for anti-corruption bodies.

TI Portugal advocates for clear political commitment, concrete goals in anti-corruption strategies, and expedited judicial processes to improve the situation.

In Europe, Portugal ranks below the average score of 64 points, trailing significantly behind countries like Denmark, Finland, and Germany.

Portugal has experienced a significant decline in its ranking on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), falling nine places to 43rd among 180 countries, marking its worst result since the index's methodology was revised in 2012.

The 2024 index reflects a global trend of stagnation and regression in combating corruption, with a low global average score of 43.

Transparency International emphasizes the need for integrating anti-corruption measures into broader governance frameworks to restore public trust.

Stricter controls on the wealth and income of politicians are necessary to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure integrity in public administration.