Ethiopian survey finds public perception of corruption has worsened

More than 60 percent of respondents to a nationwide Ethiopian survey said corruption had worsened over the previous five years, according to findings published by the Federal Anti-Corruption Commission in the week ending August 8, 2026.

The fourth National Corruption Perception Survey identified land administration, revenue and transport offices, construction-permit agencies, local woreda and kebele administrations, the Customs Commission and Ethiopian Electric Utility among the public institutions perceived as highly exposed to corruption.

The 79-page report also found concern about non-competitive public procurement. About 70 percent of civil servants familiar with procurement practices said exceptions to competitive-bidding requirements were made sometimes or always. The commission recommended auditing non-competitive contracts and restoring competitive bidding as the default.

Respondents cited fear of retaliation, inadequate whistleblower protection, complicated reporting procedures and a belief that reporting would not produce results as obstacles to exposing wrongdoing. The commission called for stronger oversight, protected feedback channels, staff rotation in frontline offices and greater use of digital systems.

The findings measure perceptions and reported experiences rather than establishing criminal liability in individual cases. They nevertheless indicate a broad confidence problem for Ethiopia’s anti-corruption institutions and public services.