The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has clarified that the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is a widely recognised metric for assessing "perceived levels of corruption," emphasising that it does not serve as a direct measure of the actual prevalence of corruption.
The ACC clarified that the annual index published by Transparency International is compiled based on the findings of various independent studies. As the index is rooted in subjective perceptions, the Commission noted that the resulting scores and rankings are contingent upon information that reflects the viewpoints of the surveyed sources.
Furthermore, the ACC highlighted that the score and ranking for the Maldives in 2025 were determined based on only three data sources.
These three sources are as follows: Global Insight Country Risk Ratings, World Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment and Varieties of Democracy
The Commission noted that these three studies do not directly measure the extent of corruption in the Maldives. Furthermore, it highlighted that, unlike many other countries, the score for the Maldives was compiled using a limited number of sources. Consequently, the ACC stated in its release that it believes it is crucial to discuss this issue at a national level and raise public awareness to ensure that the country’s score and ranking in 2025 reflects a meaningful and accurate outcome.
The Commission also highlighted its ongoing efforts to strengthen and enhance the National Integrity System of the Maldives. Additionally, work is underway to formulate a National Anti-Corruption Policy in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), ensuring alignment with the Maldives' long-term national development plan and Maldives 2.0 initiative.
Moreover, the ACC stated that it is working alongside other nations on technical initiatives related to 'Measuring the Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Agencies,' a new project spearheaded by the International Anti-Corruption Academy.