Last updated September 18, 2024
Corruption is an insidious worldwide issue, infiltrating every level of society and degrading public trust, economic development, and societal progress. By deep-diving into the state of corruption globally, we can draw a vivid picture of systemic integrity issues that plague numerous nations and may compare these phenomena as they manifest across different regions. Each year, Transparency International releases the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), placing countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), based on perceived levels of public sector corruption. The less corrupt countries are closer to 100%, while those with a higher percentage of corruption are closer to 0%. Utilizing information from this critical source, we can identify key findings and trends in corruption globally. Key findings from the data include:
According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), the 10 countries perceived as most corrupt are Somalia, Syria, South Sudan, Venezuela, Yemen, North Korea, Burundi, Haiti, Libya, and Equatorial Guinea. Each of these nations has a CPI score below 20%, indicating severe corruption within their public sectors. Topping the list is Somalia, with a disheartening CPI score of 12%. This country is struggling immensely with institutionalized corruption, hampering its development and compromising the quality of life for its citizens. The second and third most corrupt countries as per the index are Syria and South Sudan, both with a CPI score of 13%. These nations are riddled with corruption, most prominently witnessed in public sector mismanagement and misuse of entrusted power for private gains. Coming fourth is Venezuela, with a CPI score of 14%. The country's spiraling economic crisis, coupled with institutionalized corruption, has severely dampened its progress. Yemen follows closely, ranking as the fifth most corrupt country with a CPI score of 16%. North Korea, Burundi, Haiti, Libya, and Equatorial Guinea all share the next spot on the list, demonstrating an equivalent CPI score of 17%. 10 Most Corrupt Countries:
Ranked in World
#23
Ranked in World
#75
Ranked in World
#55
Ranked in World
#57
Ranked in World
#81
Ranked in World
#112
Ranked in World
#160
Ranked in World
#151
Ranked in World
#21
Ranked in World
#143
Ranked in World
#106
Ranked in World
#29
Ranked in World
#144
Ranked in World
#84
Ranked in World
#155
Ranked in World
#102
Ranked in World
#148
Ranked in World
#49
Ranked in World
#65
Ranked in World
#137
Ranked in World
#78
Ranked in World
#103
Ranked in World
#93
Ranked in World
#7
Ranked in World
#25
Ranked in World
#35
Ranked in World
#156
Ranked in World
#27
Ranked in World
#11
Ranked in World
#145
Ranked in World
#107
Ranked in World
#83
Ranked in World
#13
Ranked in World
#127
Ranked in World
#117
Ranked in World
#108
Ranked in World
#123
Ranked in World
#171
Ranked in World
#130
Ranked in World
#53
Ranked in World
#72
Ranked in World
#42
Ranked in World
#59
Ranked in World
#10
Ranked in World
#16
Ranked in World
#158
Ranked in World
#46
Ranked in World
#79
Ranked in World
#126
Ranked in World
#169
Ranked in World
#152
Ranked in World
#41
Ranked in World
#66
Ranked in World
#132
Ranked in World
#163
Ranked in World
#100
Ranked in World
#122
Ranked in World
#124
Ranked in World
#24
Ranked in World
#31
Ranked in World
#14
Ranked in World
#89
Ranked in World
#8
Ranked in World
#20
Ranked in World
#161
Ranked in World
#94
Ranked in World
#159
Ranked in World
#86
Ranked in World
#61
Ranked in World
#30
Ranked in World
#18
Ranked in World
#162
Ranked in World
#142
Ranked in World
#131
Ranked in World
#76
Ranked in World
#105
Ranked in World
#153
Ranked in World
#114
Ranked in World
#71
Ranked in World
#51
Ranked in World
#95
Ranked in World
#50
Ranked in World
#135
Ranked in World
#28
Ranked in World
#77
Ranked in World
#36
Ranked in World
#9
Ranked in World
#140
Ranked in World
#34
Ranked in World
#63
Ranked in World
#113
Ranked in World
#91
Ranked in World
#39
Ranked in World
#121
Ranked in World
#45
Ranked in World
#118
Ranked in World
#47
Ranked in World
#85
Ranked in World
#60
Ranked in World
#109
Ranked in World
#82
Ranked in World
#33
Ranked in World
#17
Ranked in World
#116
Ranked in World
#62
Ranked in World
#164
Ranked in World
#170
Ranked in World
#52
Ranked in World
#22
Ranked in World
#6
Ranked in World
#88
Ranked in World
#168
Ranked in World
#104
Ranked in World
#37
Ranked in World
#74
Ranked in World
#43
Ranked in World
#40
Ranked in World
#69
Ranked in World
#54
Ranked in World
#128
Ranked in World
#139
Ranked in World
#134
Ranked in World
#111
Ranked in World
#38
Ranked in World
#120
Ranked in World
#129
Ranked in World
#138
Ranked in World
#110
Ranked in World
#119
Ranked in World
#101
Ranked in World
#73
Ranked in World
#150
Ranked in World
#64
Ranked in World
#167
Ranked in World
#125
Ranked in World
#133
Ranked in World
#98
Ranked in World
#1
Ranked in World
#99
Ranked in World
#141
Ranked in World
#3
Ranked in World
#136
Ranked in World
#70
Ranked in World
#15
Ranked in World
#90
Ranked in World
#166
Ranked in World
#165
Ranked in World
#2
Ranked in World
#147
Ranked in World
#26
Ranked in World
#80
Ranked in World
#68
Ranked in World
#97
Ranked in World
#44
Ranked in World
#96
Ranked in World
#87
Ranked in World
#67
Ranked in World
#12
Ranked in World
#32
Ranked in World
#56
Ranked in World
#146
Ranked in World
#154
Ranked in World
#149
Ranked in World
#157
Ranked in World
#48
Ranked in World
#115
Ranked in World
#4
Ranked in World
#92
Ranked in World
#5
Ranked in World
#58
Ranked in World
#19
Region ↕ | Corruption Perceptions Index↕ |
---|---|
24% | |
36% | |
33% | |
33% | |
38% | |
46% | |
75% | |
71% | |
23% | |
64% | |
44% | |
25% | |
65% | |
39% | |
73% | |
43% | |
68% | |
31% | |
34% | |
60% | |
38% | |
43% | |
42% | |
17% | |
24% | |
26% | |
74% | |
24% | |
19% | |
67% | |
45% | |
39% | |
19% | |
54% | |
50% | |
45% | |
52% | |
90% | |
55% | |
32% | |
36% | |
30% | |
33% | |
17% | |
22% | |
74% | |
30% | |
38% | |
53% | |
87% | |
72% | |
29% | |
34% | |
56% | |
79% | |
43% | |
52% | |
52% | |
24% | |
25% | |
21% | |
40% | |
17% | |
23% | |
76% | |
42% | |
74% | |
40% | |
34% | |
25% | |
23% | |
77% | |
63% | |
56% | |
37% | |
44% | |
73% | |
47% | |
36% | |
32% | |
42% | |
31% | |
59% | |
24% | |
37% | |
26% | |
17% | |
62% | |
26% | |
34% | |
47% | |
40% | |
28% | |
51% | |
30% | |
50% | |
31% | |
39% | |
33% | |
45% | |
38% | |
26% | |
23% | |
49% | |
34% | |
80% | |
87% | |
32% | |
24% | |
17% | |
40% | |
84% | |
44% | |
27% | |
36% | |
30% | |
28% | |
36% | |
33% | |
55% | |
62% | |
58% | |
46% | |
28% | |
51% | |
55% | |
60% | |
45% | |
51% | |
43% | |
36% | |
70% | |
34% | |
83% | |
53% | |
56% | |
42% | |
12% | |
43% | |
63% | |
13% | |
60% | |
36% | |
22% | |
40% | |
83% | |
82% | |
13% | |
68% | |
24% | |
38% | |
36% | |
42% | |
30% | |
42% | |
40% | |
36% | |
19% | |
26% | |
33% | |
67% | |
73% | |
69% | |
74% | |
31% | |
48% | |
14% | |
42% | |
16% | |
33% | |
23% |