Is corruption growing in Switzerland?

In its 2025 ‘Corruption Perceptions Index’ (CPI) of 182 countries, which Transparency International published on February 10th, Switzerland shares the 6th place with Sweden. 

Both countries were given a rating of 80 points – with 100 signifying the lowest level of corruption.

While overall this is not a bad score – especially since neighbours Germany, Austria, France and Italy were ranked much lower (in the 19th, 21st, 27th, and 57th place, respectively) – what is concerning is that Switzerland’s CPI has got worse.

“Over the past 10 years, the proportion of people in the Swiss business community who consider corruption of public officials to be a common practice has increased significantly,” said  Urs Thalmann, head of Transparency International’s Swiss chapter.

“Overall, this translates into a decline in Switzerland’s score on the CPI, suggesting an increased propensity for corruption,” he added.

How does corruption manifest itself in Switzerland’s public sector?

While the study does not cite concrete cases, one such example could be lobbying in the parliament.

Though this practice is not illegal – in fact, over 100 legitimate lobby groups exist in Switzerland – it is largely unregulated and therefore considered to have a high risk of corruption, with “nepotism and opaque political lobbying standing out among the Swiss public sector’s trouble spots.” 

Other examples, according to the Corruption Risk Forecast, a collaborative effort of several European anti-corruption organisations, “Switzerland is also lagging in terms of administrative transparency…Like many other countries enjoying good public integrity, Switzerland does not publish the disclosures of public officials’ assets and conflicts of interest.” 

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What else did Transparency International report about Switzerland?

It also pointed out that cantons and municipalities “have virtually no anti-corruption strategy,” even though the cantons account for 43 percent of public spending in Switzerland, and the municipalities for 24 percent.

“The potential for corruption in the public sector, particularly with regard to nepotism and conflicts of interest, is therefore high,” the NGO said.  

“Strategies should thus be implemented at both the cantonal and municipal levels to identify and reduce the risks of corruption through effective preventative measures.”

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In response, the Conference of Cantonal Governments (KdK) acknowledged that many cantons and municipalities lack formally adopted, overarching anti-corruption strategies. 

“However, this does not mean that no measures are being taken to prevent and combat corruption,” said Nicole Gysin, KdK’s spokesperson.

For instance, several cantons have codes of conduct for public employees that address issues of conflicts of interest and corruption. Some cantons, including Zurich, have also established specific compliance structures.

“In other cantons, corruption risks are specifically analysed and addressed in particularly exposed areas or departments,” Gysin noted.

Efforts are also made to prevent corruption within the federal administration.

“However, some important areas are still missing, such as promoting transparency in lobbying at the federal administration level,” Transparency International pointed out. “Furthermore, there is no anti-corruption authority, only an interdepartmental working group, which lacks the necessary powers to enforce the strategy.”

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What about money laundering?

For years, Switzerland has been a hub for this illicit practice due to its massive wealth management sector.

However, as it occurs in the private rather than public area, the report does not address it.

But various laws enacted over the years have stemmed the flow of assets of criminal origin entering the country’s banks.

“The statutory provisions in place should thus help impede organised crime and financing of terrorism,” according to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).