ACC says CPI is perception‑based and does not directly measure corruption in the Maldives

The Anti‑Corruption Commission (ACC) said Tuesday that the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is not a direct measurement of corruption in countries, but an assessment based on perceptions gathered from international sources.

Maldives scored 39 out of 100 in the 2025 CPI, placing the country among those with high levels of perceived corruption. A score of 50 or above is generally associated with lower corruption. Maldives is ranked 91st out of 182 countries.

Transparency Maldives, in its statement on the CPI results, said the score reflects systemic vulnerabilities within the state that enable corruption, weaken institutions, and erode public trust. The organisation highlighted recent legislative and constitutional changes that it says have increased risks of centralised control and reduced oversight.

Press Statement: Maldives CPI 2025 Score Signals Ongoing Governance and Accountability Challenges.

The Maldives scores 39/100 on the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International @anticorruption , ranking 91 out of 182 countries. pic.twitter.com/ylsnuk3nxp

— Transparency MV (@TransparencyMV) February 10, 2026

In its response, the ACC said the CPI is the most widely used global indicator of corruption, but stressed that it does not measure actual corruption levels in the Maldives. Instead, the score is based on perception‑based assessments compiled from external sources.

The Maldives’ score was drawn from three sources: the Global Insight Country Risk Rating, the World Bank’s Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA), and the Varieties of Democracy project. The ACC noted that these sources do not directly assess corruption in the Maldives.

“Unlike most countries, only a limited number of sources have been used to compile the score, and the Commission considers it important that this be discussed at national level to ensure the results are meaningful and useful,” the ACC said.

The Commission added that the Maldives’ National Integrity System is being strengthened, pointing to ongoing work on the National Anti‑Corruption Policy with support from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The policy is being aligned with long‑term national planning and digitalisation initiatives.

Despite these efforts, the ACC continues to face public criticism for failing to investigate major corruption cases. Successive governments have pledged to ensure the Commission’s independence and empower it to pursue high‑profile cases, but progress has remained limited. Several major cases remain pending without investigation, contributing to ongoing public frustration.