Paying Off a Soldier or Police Officer is Easy in These Countries

24/7 Wall St. Insights

24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of the most corrupt countries in the world by reviewing data from Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Of the 180 countries ranked by the CPI, we listed the top 45 corrupt countries.
Only 28 of the 180 countries measured have improved their corruption levels over the last 12 years.
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When government officials are not made accountable for their actions, corruption can take over a government. Abuse of power and bribery can take hold when justice systems are vulnerable. Corruption wastes public resources, leaving countries without adequate infrastructure, healthcare, and other public services. A corrupt government no longer has the ability to take care of its citizens.

To find the most corrupt countries in the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index. The CPI measure reflects perceived levels of public sector corruption ranging from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Of the 180 countries ranked by the CPI, we listed the 45 highly corrupt countries – those that have a CPI score of 28 or less. Population, GDP per capita in current U.S. dollars, and life expectancy at birth data came from the World Bank. The CPI notes it “aggregates data from several different sources that capture perceptions among businesspeople and country experts of the level of corruption in the public sector.”

According to the organization’s Corruption Perception Index, only 28 of the 180 countries measured have improved their corruption levels over the last 12 years, while 34 countries have significantly worsened. Moreover, more than two-thirds of countries score below 50 out of 100, indicative of serious corruption problems, and the global average is stuck at only 43.

Among Transparency International’s 45 countries at the bottom of its 2023 index, 22 are in the vast sub-Saharan region of Africa. Eight countries are in the Asia Pacific region, seven in the Americas, six in the Middle East & North Africa regions, and six are in Eastern Europe & Central Asia. No country on this list is from Western Europe & the EU. And while the Americas encompass North America, no country on this list is from North America. The U.S. ranks as 24th least corrupt. (Also see, The Most Miserable Countries in the World.)

Except for Russia, none of the most corrupt countries have a higher GDP per capita than the global average of nearly $12,700, and many rank among the poorest countries. Similarly, only eight countries have an average life at expectancy at birth longer than the world average of 71.3 years.

At the bottom of our list include the countries of Somalia, Venezuela, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. With the exception of Venezuela, these countries are suffering conflicts and civil war. Yemen is one of the poorest and least developed countries around the globe. The country has been suffering from the tragedies of a civil war for the past decade. Syria is also experiencing civil war and has been since 2011.

In South Sudan, meanwhile, conflict between the government, opposing forces, and their respective allied militias continues as authorities fail to ensure accountability for grave violations. And in Somalia, “The conflicts affecting Somalia are deeply rooted in its history and continue to shape the country’s destiny,” says the Red Cross. In Venezuela, a socioeconomic and political crisis began during the presidency of Hugo Chávez and has worsened since.

Why Are We Talking About Corruption?

Corruption weakens democracies and increases inequality, social division, poverty, and the environmental crisis. If we can better understand corruption and what “makes it tick,” we are better able to expose it when we see it and hold those responsible accountable. Corruption happens anywhere and with anyone. Transparency in public offices is how we prevent it from happening.

Let’s discover the 48 most corrupt countries.