Morocco Faces Continued Decline in Global Corruption and Governance Rankings
Morocco has seen a continued decline in its global rankings related to corruption and governance, according to the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and Fight against Corruption. The Authority highlighted these concerns while presenting its 2026 budget to the House of Representatives, emphasizing that international data indicates an “unsatisfactory” situation regarding the persistence of corruption and weak governance performance.
The Authority noted that several international indices have shown a worsening trend in Morocco’s standing. One such index is Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, which saw Morocco drop from 87th place in 2021 to 99th in 2024 under the current government. This decline underscores a growing concern about the country’s ability to combat corruption effectively.
In addition to this, Morocco recorded a higher bribery risk in the 2024 Global Bribery Risk Index, with a score of 56 compared to the global average of 48.74. The risk levels increased in areas such as government transparency and public administration, although they decreased in enforcement, deterrence, and civil society oversight. This mixed picture suggests that while some aspects of governance are improving, others remain problematic.
The World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index also showed a deterioration in Morocco’s performance. Specifically, the “absence of corruption” sub-indicator dropped from 47th in 2015 to 95th in 2024. The Authority attributed this decline to a worsening situation relative to other countries, indicating a need for urgent action.
Morocco’s performance in the 2024 governance index was also concerning, with a score of 4.63. This represents a decrease of 0.21 points from 2022 and 0.12 points from 2006. The drop was mainly due to weaker consensus-building, which highlights challenges in fostering unity and cooperation across different sectors of society.
Another key indicator, the Bertelsmann Transformation Index, showed a similar downward trend. Morocco’s ranking on the political transformation scale fell from 74th in 2006 to 106th in 2024—a loss of 32 positions. The Authority cited lower levels of political participation, weaker rule of law, and reduced political and social integration as key factors behind this decline.
In terms of compliance with international standards, the Authority reported that Morocco meets 78% of regulatory standards on conflicts of interest but only 33% in practice. For access to information and open data, compliance stands at 78% in regulation and 54% in practice. In lobbying transparency, the country meets 20% of regulatory criteria and none in practice. These figures indicate a significant gap between policy and implementation.
The Authority emphasized that these results highlight the urgent need for stronger enforcement mechanisms and institutional reforms. Without meaningful changes, Morocco risks further erosion of its reputation in international governance assessments and a continued decline in public trust.
Key Challenges Identified by the Authority
- Corruption Perception Index (CPI):Morocco dropped from 87th in 2021 to 99th in 2024.
- Global Bribery Risk Index:Scored 56, higher than the global average of 48.74.
- Rule of Law Index:The “absence of corruption” sub-indicator fell from 47th in 2015 to 95th in 2024.
- Governance Index:Scored 4.63 in 2024, down from previous years.
- Bertelsmann Transformation Index:Ranking on political transformation fell from 74th in 2006 to 106th in 2024.
- OECD Recommendations:Compliance with regulatory standards varies significantly between policy and practice.