Corruption
Most Corrupt Countries 2025
Corruption Perception Index Score 2024
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- Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scores utilize an inverse 0-100 scale in which 0 indicates the most corruption and 100 indicates the least corruption.
- Therefore, higher scores are preferable.
Snapshot
- Transparency.org's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks countries by perceived corruption levels; introduced in 1995, it defines corruption as misuse of public power for private gain.
- The top three most corrupt countries in the 2022 CPI were Somalia (12), Syria and South Sudan (tied at 13), followed by Venezuela (14).
- A separate 2023 Best Countries ranking from U.S. News, BAV Group, and Wharton School listed Russia, Iran, and Colombia as the top three most corrupt nations.
Not all governments operate with the best interests of their citizens as the top priority. People in power can have a hard time resisting the temptation to use that power for their own gain, and many public servants in many countries have been caught up in political scandals and corruption. In some countries, histories of deeply entrenched corruption have spurred political unrest between the governments and their citizens.
Introducing the Corruption Perceptions Index
In an effort to shine a light on corruption and initiate changes for the better, the organization Transparency.org has created the Corruption Perceptions Index, which uses expert assessments and surveys to rank countries based upon their perceived levels of corruption. Initially launched in 1995, the CPI defines corruption as “the misuse of public power for private benefit.”
The 2022 CPI (released January 2023) ranked 180 countries on a scale from 0 to 100. The lower the score, the more corrupt a country is considered to be.
The Top 10 Most Corrupt Countries in the World (2022 Corruption Perceptions Index)
Country | Corruption Perception Index Score 2024 |
|---|---|
| South Sudan | 8 |
| Somalia | 9 |
| Venezuela | 10 |
| Syria | 12 |
| Yemen | 13 |
| Libya | 13 |
| Eritrea | 13 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 13 |
| Nicaragua | 14 |
| Sudan | 15 |
Somalia, ranked as the most corrupt country in the world for a number of recent years, has undergone a shift between 2019 (CPI score of 9) and 2021 (CPI 13), finally regaining the top spot for corruption in 2022 (CPI 12). Meanwhile, South Sudan’s score dropped from 12 in 2020 to 11 in 2021, eventually tying with Syria for the second spot at the CPI of 13 in 2022. Venezuela has securely placed third in 2021 and 2022 with a CPI score of 14.
Ultimately, the average score on the 2022 CPI was 43/100 for the eleventh year in a row, and over 2/3 of countries scored lower than 50/100. Clearly, corruption—or at least the impression of it—continues to be a problem all over the world.
Alternate Views on National Corruption
However, other studies provide different rankings. The 2023 Best Countries rankings from U.S. News and World Report, BAV Group, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania surveyed more than 17,000 citizens all over the world. Of the 87 countries featured in the survey, Russia was chosen as 2023’s most corrupt nation. Iran and Colombia slotted in second and third places.
What Are the Least Corrupt Countries in the World?
On the other hand, the CPI report’s least corrupt countries for 2021 and 2022 have been Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, and Sweden.
