Citizens’ attitudes towards corruption in the EU in 2025
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The latest edition of the Eurobarometer survey offers a comprehensive insight into how corruption is perceived and experienced across the European Union. Conducted regularly since 2005, this survey examines a wide spectrum of issues — from general attitudes toward corruption and its perceived prevalence, to citizens’ direct experiences with bribery and institutional misconduct.
It evaluates public confidence in governments, judicial systems, and other authorities in combating corruption, while also probing the reasons why individuals may choose not to report it. The findings provide a critical benchmark for understanding both the societal and institutional dimensions of corruption within the EU.
71% of EU citizens consider it never acceptable to do a favour to receive something from public administration or public services; 74% believe it is never acceptable to give gifts to public administration or public services; and 80% of respondents find giving money to get something from the public administration or public service never acceptable.
69% of Europeans believe that corruption is widespread in their country. 51% believe that corruption is widespread among political parties.
EU citizens widely perceive corruption in both local and national public institutions
73% of Europeans agree that there is corruption in national public institutions.70% respondents agree that there is corruption in local or regional public institutions.
Europeans are still sceptical about efforts to address corruption
Two-thirds of Europeans think that high-level corruption cases are not pursued sufficiently in their countries; more than half do not think that government efforts to combat corruption are effective; and nearly half of Europeans do not think that measures against corruption are applied impartially and without ulterior motives in their country.
Personal experiences of bribery
At the EU level, 5% of respondents report having experienced and/or witnessed corruption in the last 12 months, but one in five of them say they reported the case. In parallel, less than half of Europeans know where to report a case of corruption.
