Bulgaria ranked 84th among 182 countries and territories in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, scoring 40 out of a possible 100 points. This is the lowest score since 2012 and sends a serious signal about institutional vulnerability and the effectiveness of the anti-corruption system. In the last two years alone, our country has lost 5 points: a statistically significant change that underscores the consequences of ineffective measures and a lack of decisive action against long-standing kleptocracy networks.
Although Europe remains a region with relatively low levels of corruption on a global scale, progress in the fight against corruption over the past decade has been minimal. The average score for the European Union and Western Europe on the Corruption Perceptions Index has fallen from 66 to 64 points, with 13 countries recording a significant decline and only seven showing improvement. This highlights the growing gap between formal standards of good governance and integrity and their actual implementation.
As European countries face overlapping challenges ranging from politicized institutions to attacks on civil society, the need for decisive leaders and strong, independent institutions has never been more evident.
Although a legislative framework formally exists in Bulgaria, the actual implementation of anti-corruption measures remains inconsistent. The National Anti-Corruption Strategy has been put on hold, a number of recommendations from the European Commission, GRECO, and the OECD remain unfulfilled, and key institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission and independent regulatory bodies are not functioning effectively.
Businesses are feeling the impact firsthand. According to recent studies, 55% of companies identify corruption as a serious problem for their operations, and 89% perceive it as widespread. This creates an environment in which businesses adapt to unwritten rules, and investment decisions are delayed due to uncertainty and a lack of predictability.
Civil society is also subject to systematic pressure. Draft bills requiring the registration of foreign agents, the suggested creation of special parliamentary commissions to investigate nongovernmental organizations, and restrictions on their funding create a sense of insecurity and stigmatize active civil society organizations.
The lack of consistent reforms, political instability, and weak institutional capacity continue to hinder the country’s progress in the fight against corruption.
Without strengthening the rule of law, ensuring the independence of institutions, and effectively implementing anti-corruption mechanisms, Bulgaria risks exacerbating the negative trends that affect both the country’s democratic governance and its economic development.
Find more about Bulgaria CPI 2025 score and detailed country analysis (in Bulgarian).