21 Countries Downing the Most in Corruption
Corruption exists to some extent in nearly every country, but according to the Corruption Perceptions Index, it’s particularly rampant in the following 21 nations.
Dirty money can lead to extra degrees of stifled economies, political instability, and a lack of public trust in these countries.
The Corruptions Percentage Index
The Corruption Percentage Index provides a corruption score for each country based on the perception of corruption from 0 to 100. One of the major factors involved in calculating the score is financial transparency, as disproportionate wealth and in-kind contributions often signal a corrupt government.
These are the most corrupt countries in the world, starting with the worst offenders.
1: Somalia
Somalia is the most corrupt country in the world, according to the Corruption Percentage Index (CPI). Somalia scores a 12 on the CPI, with 0 signifying “highly corrupt” and 100 signifying “very clean.” Endless conflict, suppression of the press, economic instability, and terrorism have become fertile ground for increased government corruption.
2: Syria
Recent government policies that grant power to favored bodies without restriction or regulation lead to large amounts of corruption in Syria. Government interference goes as far as to decide who will and will not receive needed aid. Syria scores a 13 on the CPI.
3: South Sudan
South Sudan also receives a 13 on the Corruption Percentage Index, and it’s because the nation’s elite effectively controls and benefits from the economy. There’s next to no regulation to combat the continued fraud.
4: Venezuela
With a score of 14 on the CPI, Venezuela is a corruption hot spot. Government officials are incentivized to turn a blind eye or even make a profit from the large amount of criminal activity in the country.
5: Yemen
Yemen’s CPI score of 16 makes it the most corrupt country in the Arabian Peninsula. Government bribery and a corrupt judicial system strain Yemen’s economy and threaten its citizens.
6: North Korea
The authoritarian country of North Korea has a CPI score of 17. North Korea under the Kim Family wasn’t always as corrupt as it is now. In the 1950s, the ruling elites effectively ran an anti-corruption campaign, but today, the family benefits from widespread corrupt practices.
7: Libya
Corruption often takes root in countries experiencing continued conflict and political strife. Libya is no exception, as its score of 17 on the CPI indicates.
8: Haiti
Haiti has seen more than its fair share of natural disasters, leading to widespread hunger and the spreading of disease. The government there has only made the situation worse due to corrupt and predatory practices that earn the country a score of 17 on the CPI.
9: Equatorial Guinea
Leaders in Equatorial Guinea use their power over the economy and judicial system to enrich their own lives at the expense of regular citizens. It’s not shocking, then, that Equatorial Guinea scores a 17 on the CPI.
10: Burundi
Corruption in Burundi is widespread, from petty bribery among lower government officials to larger corruption schemes among political leaders. It scores a 17 on the CPI.
11: Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan scores a 19 on the CPI due to extensive corruption. Bribery is essentially a requirement to obtain any sort of government service or contract in Turkmenistan.
12: Nicaragua
The government in Nicaragua, run by President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, is extensively corrupt and scores a 19 on the CPI. The destruction of democratic values and lack of accountability within the government makes the country ripe for abuses of power.
13: Chad
Nepotism and bribery among government officials in Chad are commonplace, as indicated by its score of 19 on the CPI. The government also gives its leaders complete impunity from crimes, furthering corruption.
14: Comoros
Comoros scores a 20 on the CPI due, in part, to several high-level cases of corruption and the suppression of accountability. Journalists who attempt to call out officials for corruption are often subject to arrest or intimidation.
15: Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), scores a 20 on the CPI. The DRC government lacks integrity and is prone to accepting bribery and fostering the illicit flow of funds.
16: Guinea-Bissau
Grand-scale corruption in Guinea-Bissau is common, earning the country a score of 21 on the CPI. Guinea-Bissau is a drug trafficking hub, and much of the corruption is related to the massive amount of drugs that move through its borders.
17: Sudan
Corruption in Sudan ranges from the bribery of low-level public servants to embezzlement by high-ranking government officials. The North African country scores a 22 on the CPI.
18: Eritrea
Though Eritrea law forbids government corruption and has severe penalties in place for those who disobey, corruption is still widespread. Special courts handle corruption cases and often grant impunity, which helps explain Eritrea’s CPI score of 22.
19: Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe scores a 23 on the CPI. Government entities ranging from municipal police officers to representatives in parliament often exhibit signs of corrupt practices.
20: Myanmar
Myanmar dropped nearly 18% since the last CPI rankings. With a current score of 23, Myanmar leaders are often implicit in bribery schemes.
21: Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani declared government corruption was “no less serious than the threat of terrorism” in 2023. With a score of 23 on the CPI, Iraq faces widespread financial and administrative corruption, which the government is attempting to clean up via economic reforms.
Where the US Stands
The United States scores a 69 on the CPI. To put that in perspective, the highest-scoring country on the list, Denmark, scores 90. The world average is 43.
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