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:
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
24%
#23
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
36%
#75
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
33%
#55
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
33%
#57
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
38%
#81
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
46%
#112
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
75%
#160
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
71%
#151
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
23%
#21
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
64%
#143
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
44%
#106
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
25%
#29
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
65%
#144
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
39%
#84
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
73%
#155
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
43%
#102
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
68%
#148
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
31%
#49
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
34%
#65
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
60%
#137
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
38%
#78
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
43%
#103
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
42%
#93
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
17%
#7
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
24%
#25
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
26%
#35
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
74%
#156
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
24%
#27
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
19%
#11
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
67%
#145
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
45%
#107
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
39%
#83
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
19%
#13
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
54%
#127
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
50%
#117
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
45%
#108
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
52%
#123
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
90%
#171
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
55%
#130
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
32%
#53
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
36%
#72
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
30%
#42
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
33%
#59
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
17%
#10
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
22%
#16
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
74%
#158
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
30%
#46
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
38%
#79
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
53%
#126
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
87%
#169
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
72%
#152
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
29%
#41
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
34%
#66
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
56%
#132
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
79%
#163
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
43%
#100
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
52%
#122
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
52%
#124
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
24%
#24
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
25%
#31
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
21%
#14
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
40%
#89
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
17%
#8
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
23%
#20
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
76%
#161
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
42%
#94
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
74%
#159
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
40%
#86
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
34%
#61
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
25%
#30
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
23%
#18
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
77%
#162
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
63%
#142
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
56%
#131
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
37%
#76
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
44%
#105
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
73%
#153
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
47%
#114
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
36%
#71
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
32%
#51
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
42%
#95
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
31%
#50
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
59%
#135
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
24%
#28
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
37%
#77
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
26%
#36
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
17%
#9
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
62%
#140
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
26%
#34
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
34%
#63
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
47%
#113
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
40%
#91
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
28%
#39
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
51%
#121
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
30%
#45
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
50%
#118
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
31%
#47
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
39%
#85
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
33%
#60
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
45%
#109
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
38%
#82
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
26%
#33
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
23%
#17
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
49%
#116
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
34%
#62
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
80%
#164
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
87%
#170
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
32%
#52
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
24%
#22
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
17%
#6
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
40%
#88
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
84%
#168
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
44%
#104
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
27%
#37
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
36%
#74
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
30%
#43
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
28%
#40
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
36%
#69
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
33%
#54
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
55%
#128
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
62%
#139
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
58%
#134
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
46%
#111
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
28%
#38
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
51%
#120
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
55%
#129
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
60%
#138
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
45%
#110
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
51%
#119
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
43%
#101
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
36%
#73
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
70%
#150
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
34%
#64
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
83%
#167
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
53%
#125
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
56%
#133
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
42%
#98
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
12%
#1
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
43%
#99
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
63%
#141
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
13%
#3
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
60%
#136
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
36%
#70
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
22%
#15
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
40%
#90
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
83%
#166
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
82%
#165
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
13%
#2
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
68%
#147
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
24%
#26
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
38%
#80
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
36%
#68
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
42%
#97
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
30%
#44
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
42%
#96
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
40%
#87
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
36%
#67
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
19%
#12
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
26%
#32
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
33%
#56
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
67%
#146
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
73%
#154
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
69%
#149
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
74%
#157
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
31%
#48
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
48%
#115
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
14%
#4
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
42%
#92
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
16%
#5
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
33%
#58
Metric
Value
Rank
Corruption Perceptions Index
23%
#19
Region ↕ | Corruption Perceptions Index ↕ |
---|---|
Afghanistan | 24% |
Albania | 36% |
Algeria | 33% |
Angola | 33% |
Argentina | 38% |
Armenia | 46% |
Australia | 75% |
Austria | 71% |
Azerbaijan | 23% |
Bahamas | 64% |
Bahrain | 44% |
Bangladesh | 25% |