The World’s 10 Most Corrupt Countries

Venezuela held mock elections on June 30th a few weeks ahead of the official election in which the current president, Nicolás Maduro is seeking a third term. The government told voters these practice elections were to help the public familiarize themselves with the voting equipment. However, AP News reported that some Venezuelan voters have concerns that the mock elections are a method for the government to find out who is voting for the opposition ahead of the official election. Venezuela has suffered for years under economic sanctions put in place by the U.S. and other governments to try to curb human rights abuse and government corruption.

Venezuela is one of the top 10 most corrupt countries in the world, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index  (CPI). To find the top 10 list, 24/7 Wall St. used data from the CPI, an annual list that ranks 180 countries and territories based on corruption scores. This reputable measure of corruption calculates the score based on at least three data sources from over a dozen corruption surveys and assessments. Some of these sources include the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. Scores range from 0 to 100, with 0 being the most corrupt possible while a score of 100 is completely corruption-free.

There are no countries in the world that can boast a 100 score, but Denmark comes the closest with 90. Fortunately, there are also no countries with a 0, although the Federal Republic of Somalia scored the lowest with 11. Somalia was once a colony of the United Kingdom but since gaining independence in 1960 has suffered from political instability, civil war, and poverty.

Some broad trends shown in the data from the CPI revealed some disturbing findings. Over two-thirds of the countries on the list scored below 50, while the global average is also below 50, at 43. Furthermore, according to Transparency International, things have only grown worse or remained the same in the past decade. (Also see the least corrupt countries in the world.)

Why This Matters

Transparency International defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” When government officials work to improve their own individual circumstances, rather than strive for the good of the country, regular citizens are the ones to suffer. Corruption isn’t always as obvious as fake elections or police officers working for drug lords. It can be misusing public money or grants, offering contracts and public jobs to family members, or taking bribes from corporations. The only way to expose corruption is to hold those who commit it accountable for their actions.

#10 Turkmenistan

• Corruption score: 18
• Score change: -1

Turkmenistan is actually tied with Libya for this ranking, but as its corruption score is falling and Libya’s is rising, it is likely Turkmenistan will retain this position. The organization Crude Accountability has called Turkmenistan’s government a blatant and open kleptocracy, which is a form of government in which officials steal money from their people simply to enrich themselves.

A Government of Bribery

There is rampant bribery in the country for education officials and law enforcement. The Minister of Internal Affairs was imprisoned for corruption and the Deputy Prime Minister for Education and Science was removed from office because of his inability to combat the corruption in his department.

#9 Republic of Equatorial Guinea

• Corruption score: 17
• Score change: 0

A small country on the west coast of Africa, Equatorial Guinea remains near the bottom of the corruption list mostly due to the actions of President Obiang Nguema and his party. Nguema has been called one of the planet’s “most kleptocratic living autocrats” by Freedom House. He has openly flaunted the election rules of his country and introduced a new constitution that allowed himself and his allies to remain in power.

A Country Suffering From Colonialism

Equatorial Guinea only gained independence from Spain in 1968, which contributed to much of its economic struggles and corruption today as former colonial powers abandon their colonies and refused to help them in their post-independence fight.

#8 Republic of Haiti

• Corruption score: 17
• Score change: 0

To its everlasting credit, Haiti is the only Western Hemisphere country to successfully stage a slave revolution, but successive dictatorships and deep corruption have detracted from that glorious achievement.

Haiti is Suffering from Stolen Money

Previous administrations have stolen hundreds of millions from their government and from the US treasury. They also stole hundreds of millions from their own citizen through a variety of schemes to enrich themselves.

Haiti has undergone 32 coups and the last president was assassinated in 2021.

#7 Republic of Nicaragua

• Corruption score: 17
• Score change: -2

Nicaragua’s corruption score has fallen consistently ever since the election of Daniel Ortega in 2006. Multiple organizations have reported on the systemic elimination of individual rights in the country under his administration. This includes arbitrary detentions and arrests of political opponents and candidates.

Rampant Corruption in Nicaragua

Originally, the Nicaraguan president could only serve one five-year term. Ortega had this restriction removed and has been reelected through blatant fraud, voter intimidation, and political arrests. He was elected to his fourth term in 2021. Independent reporters and observers were banned from election polls, and the United States, OAS, and European Union have all called the latest election a sham.

#6 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

• Corruption score: 17
• Score change: 0

It is technically possible to have a totalitarian dictatorship and cult of personality around a political leader without rampant corruption, but it hasn’t happened yet, and North Korea continues the trend.

North Korea has one of the most terrible human rights records of all existing countries. All elections within the country are unfair and determined ahead of time. According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, North Korea practices “systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations” […] “the gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world”.

A Government of Terror

Human Rights Watch said that the North Korean people are “some of the world’s most brutalized people”. All aspects of life in North Korea are strictly and severely controlled by the government.

Any attempt to justify North Korea’s behavior or humanize its leaders are attempts to normalize brutal sexual violence, slavery, and inhumane government practices.

#5 Republic of Yemen

• Corruption score: 16
• Score change: 0

There have been many street protests as a result of ongoing political crises ever since 2011. Current President Saleh tried to eliminate the restrictions on presidential terms, and multiple opposition groups rose up in an ongoing civil war.

An Ongoing Humanitarian Disaster

The country is now considered to be experiencing a humanitarian disaster as a result of the conflict, making it one of the least-developed countries on Earth and one of the poorest. The fight for power, rampant poverty, and disregard for human rights is a fertile place for corruption to thrive.

#4 Republic of South Sudan

• Corruption score: 13
• Score change: 0

South Sudan achieved autonomy from Sudan in 2005 and finally declared independence in 2011. Its short existence has been filled with civil war, ethnic conflict, and blatant human rights abuses. South Sudan inherited the legacy of British colonialism which has left it without the infrastructure and natural resources that would have helped it be successful.

Another Casualty of Colonialism

The government has struggled to maintain control of the country through legal and ethical means. This includes killing journalists, abolishing parts of the government, mass killings, and more. Even the CIA predicts that the next genocide will probably happen in South Sudan.

#3 Syrian Arab Republic

• Corruption score: 13
• Score change: 0

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad inherited the presidency from his father and continues the cult of personality that surrounds the al-Assad family. His totalitarian regime has been condemned for human rights abuses, extreme censorship, political repression, disappearances, mass murders, summary executions, chemical attacks, war crimes, and more. Syria violently suppressed the Arab Spring protests during the 2011 revolution.

War Crimes to Maintain Power

The Assad regime introduced a new constitution, without input from other government officials, that increased the power of his regime and continues to require political parties to get authorization from Assad’s Ba’athist political committee. Freedom House calls Syria the “Worst of the Worst” of all “not free” countries with a score of 1/100, tied only with South Sudan.

The judicial system in Syria is not independent and all judges and prosecutors are appointed by the Ba’ath party. Assad abolished Syria’s supreme court in 2011. Their elections are complete shams including rigging and no registration or verification systems.

#2 Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

• Corruption score: 13
• Score change: -1

Venezuela is currently in crisis following the 2013 Venezuelan presidential election which led to massive protests against its regression into an authoritarian state that has increased economic inequality in the country.

Corruption Fueled by Drugs

Much of the corruption in Venezuela is tied to drug trafficking and Colombian cocaine. Many elected officials and military officers are involved in the illegal trade industry.

The World Justice Project ranked Venezuela as the most corrupt country out of 99 on its Rule of Law Index in 2014.

#1 Federal Republic of Somalia

• Corruption score: 11
• Score change: -1

As is the case with most countries on this list, Somalia’s corruption problems have deep roots in colonialism and U.S. military intervention. Somalia used to be a colony of the United Kingdom until they achieved independence in 1960. During this time, however, the British gave much of Somalia’s land to neighboring countries, further destroying the country and hindering future efforts at stability.

A County Hamstrung by Colonialism

Somalia is one of the least-developed countries in the world, plagued by poverty and civil war. Ongoing conflict has allowed corruption to grow unchecked as the government struggles to reunite the country. After the United States intervened to defeat Islamist forces, the U.S. subsequently abandoned the country and issued an arms embargo. Other countries also failed to support the democratic government which made it much more difficult for Somalia to end the conflict and save the country.

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