Public Sector Corruption Index in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Public Sector Corruption Index was 0.428 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Public Sector Corruption Index in Saudi Arabia, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 0.428 for public sector corruption index in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 234 years on record.
The figure is down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector corruption index in Saudi Arabia peaked at 0.8 in 1789 and was at its lowest, 0.428, in 2022.
That places Saudi Arabia 98th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 234 years of available data.
Public Sector Corruption Index in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.8 | — |
| 1790 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.676 | -15.5% |
| 1823 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.676 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.658 | -2.7% |
| 1954 | 0.658 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.658 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.658 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.658 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.658 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.658 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.658 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.658 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.658 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.627 | -4.7% |
| 1964 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.627 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.642 | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.642 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.617 | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 0.589 | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 0.524 | -11.0% |
| 2021 | 0.524 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.428 | -18.3% |
| 2023 | 0.428 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.428 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.428 | +0.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 0.428 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.093, 4.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 0.428 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.595, 72% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 9 |
| 1820s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 8 |
| 1830s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.676 | 0.676 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.6634 | 0.658 | 0.676 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.6363 | 0.627 | 0.658 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.6345 | 0.627 | 0.642 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.642 | 0.642 | 0.642 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.642 | 0.642 | 0.642 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.642 | 0.642 | 0.642 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6342 | 0.589 | 0.642 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.46 | 0.428 | 0.524 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More social development data for Saudi Arabia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 448 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,368 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,368 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public sector corruption index in Saudi Arabia?
- Public sector corruption index in Saudi Arabia was 0.428 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector corruption index recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.8 in 1789.
- What is the lowest public sector corruption index recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.428 in 2022.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for public sector corruption index?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 98th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is public sector corruption index rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Public Sector Corruption Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 234 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Data by V-Dem. Expert estimates of the extent to which public sector employees engage in bribery and theft. The index ranges from 0 to 1 (highly corrupt).