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Few will be surprised, yet the data on Hungarian corruption remain profoundly depressing
Hungary has topped the European Union’s corruption league table once more, according to Transparency International—this marks the fourth consecutive year.
Hungary the most corrupt EU member state
The 24.hu news site reported that Hungary and Bulgaria languish at the bottom of Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index (cpi), meaning we have now been deemed the bloc’s most corrupt state for a fourth year running.
The index runs from 0 to 100, with 100 signifying the cleanest public sector imaginable, utterly free of corruption. Hungary scored a dismal 40 points, placing last (equivalent to 84th globally), and that’s a point lower than last year. This suggests public perceptions of corruption have deteriorated further. In the EU rankings, Romania trails Hungary and Bulgaria with 45 points.
By contrast, the EU’s least corrupt states—Denmark, Finland, and Sweden—all scored above 80. Norway, outside the bloc, rounds out the global top five.
Only Ukraine and Serbia behind Hungary in the region
The Scandinavian model of development has, of course, diverged markedly from Hungary’s over recent decades—or even centuries—so it may be fairer to benchmark against regional peers. In central and eastern Europe, Estonia leads with 76 points. Austria sits 21st, alongside Belgium and the United Arab Emirates. Slovenia is 41st, Poland 52nd, Czechia 59th, Slovakia 61st, Croatia 63rd, and Ukraine a lowly 104th—though the war-torn country has improved on its 2024 score, now at 36. Serbia fared worse still, at 116th (noting that ties are possible).
Hungary’s score has been sliding since 2018. By 2020, we had overtaken all comers at the foot of the table, and between 2022 and 2025 we held the unwanted crown as the most corrupt—tied with Bulgaria in the latest, 2025-based rankings.
If you missed our previous articles about corruption in Hungary:
- Over corruption concerns, Hungary could lose multi-billion-euro defence loan
- Corruption? Orbán’s son-in-law involved in government investments worth billions
Link to the source. Makes for interesting (not entertaining) reading.
https://www.transparency.org/en/
After listening to so many Hungarians, of every persuasion, I have the perception that there is a lot of corruption in Hungary – amongst officials, and even at the local level.
So, maybe this problem is worse in Hungary than it is, here, in the Southern part of the disUnited States.
That said, we have the problem.
Nothing more clearly demonstrates this than Miriam Adelson, widow of former Las Vegas mogul, Sheldon Adelson, she who gave President Trump $250,000,000.00!
And when our president said exactly that in public, she, sitting right behind him, did not deny it.
And … so what does a $250,000,00.00 campaign donation buy?
In this case 2 naval fleets sitting off the coast of Iran – a country which not only has no assets that we could want, they pose no threat to us.
@Mouton – the EU has frozen EUR billions in funds over rule-of-law concerns. These are documented findings from independent international bodies. And it is in major part due to our Politicians, their family, friends and toadies. The ones you generally lavish with praise?
Pivoting to US issues doesn’t change these facts, other than explaining why Mr. Trump can relate to Mr. Orbán so well.
On Iran: it’s a major oil producer, operates proxy forces across the Middle East, and has an active nuclear program under international scrutiny. Characterizing it as harmless misrepresents the situation.
#commentops