The 20 Most Corrupt Countries in the World – and Why Things Are So Bad

Transparency International annually releases their Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) – a global index based on experts’ and business people’s perceptions of public sector corruption levels in 180 countries. Based on 2024 data and more than 130 sources, we’ve mapped the 20 most corrupt countries in the world, ranked from “highly corrupt” to extremely systemic corruption.

#20: Chad – Oil Money in the President’s Pocket

Chad has been ruled for decades by a petro-dictatorship where oil revenues disappear into the network around the presidential family. The judiciary does not function independently, and corruption spreads across all sectors. Press freedom is minimal, allowing the elite free rein for abuse of power.

#19: Zimbabwe – From Liberation Struggle to Kleptocracy

Zimbabwe’s political elite controls natural resources, especially diamonds and minerals, for systematic enrichment. The judiciary and police are politicized to protect those in power. Journalists and critics face censorship and oppression, concealing the full extent of corruption.

#18: Tajikistan – A State Built on Drug Money

Under President Rahmon, Tajikistan has evolved into a nepotistic narco-state. High-ranking officials profit directly from the heroin trade from Afghanistan. The judiciary is a mere facade, and the accumulation of wealth by those in power happens unchecked.

#17: Nicaragua – Opposition Forbidden, Corruption Permitted

President Ortega has established an authoritarian regime where any opposition is eliminated. Officials in the inner circle enrich themselves without fear of prosecution. The press and civil society are virtually abolished, allowing corruption to thrive unhindered.

#16: Guinea-Bissau – The Drug State of West Africa

Guinea-Bissau is permeated by drug trafficking, with military personnel and politicians directly involved. A weak judiciary and political instability make the country vulnerable to organized crime. Intimidation of the press and whistleblowers keeps the public in the dark.

#15: Democratic Republic of Congo – Minerals and Abuse of Power

DRC’s rich mineral deposits have become a curse: militias and officials exploit resources for personal gain. The state has limited control, and the judiciary is dysfunctional. Corruption and violence reinforce each other in an endless spiral.

#14: Sudan – Corruption in the Shadow of Chaos

Sudan’s decades of authoritarian rule have created a network of corruption that continues amidst the current conflict. Military and paramilitary leaders enrich themselves with impunity. The rule of law is dissolved, and journalists are persecuted or disappear.

#13: Burundi – Paradise of Impunity

In Burundi, impunity reigns for officials. Political crises and lack of press freedom make it risky to expose corruption. Patronage networks and nepotism characterize the state apparatus, while anti-corruption agencies are toothless.

#12: Haiti – Gangs and Bribery

Haiti is characterized by a power vacuum and weak institutions. Criminal gangs operate in collusion with corrupt officials, while the police are dysfunctional. Journalists are intimidated, and the state is effectively dysfunctional.

#11: Turkmenistan – Total Control, Total Corruption

The presidential family runs Turkmenistan as a closed autocracy. Corruption is the norm across all sectors, and the media is fully state-controlled. The legal system is used as a weapon against critics and protects the elite, who enrich themselves with impunity.

#10: Afghanistan – Corruption Under Taliban

After the Taliban’s takeover, corruption has exploded. Families are appointed to positions, and the rule of law essentially does not exist. Activities such as opium production and smuggling involve officials and warlords – without press or civil society to hold them accountable.

#9: North Korea – The Corrupt Machine of Censorship

The Kim dynasty rules the country with total control. The state is characterized by bribery and illegal activities such as arms and drug smuggling. Censorship and lack of transparency make it impossible to assess the extent of the regime’s corruption.

#8: Eritrea – Silence and State Control

Eritrea is one of the world’s most closed societies, where the military and party elite control resources. Opposition is suppressed, and national service is used as a means of coercion and bribery. The rule of law does not exist, enabling systemic corruption.

#7: Equatorial Guinea – Oil for the Elite

The country’s oil wealth is concentrated in the hands of President Obiang and his family. Lack of press freedom and the absence of civil society mean that even extravagant misuse of state funds remains undetected. Nepotism and clientelism pervade governance.

#6: Venezuela – Economic Collapse and Elite Theft

Maduro’s regime combines economic crisis with authoritarian rule and widespread corruption. Public funds are misused to circumvent sanctions, and the military is involved in drug trafficking. Freedom of the press is absent, and the rule of law has broken down.

#5: Libya – A Nation in Disarray

Following Gaddafi’s fall, Libya has become a patchwork of militia groups. Corruption flourishes in the absence of a strong central government, and oil profits are channeled to local power holders. The press and oversight bodies largely don’t exist.

#4: Yemen – Civil War and Bribery

The civil war has fragmented Yemen, and rivaling factions exploit the situation for personal gain. Access to public services often requires bribes, and aid delivery is embezzled. Without a free press, the population remains unaware of these abuses.

#3: Syria – Corruption as Survival

Al-Assad’s authoritarian regime and the chaos of civil war have turned corruption into a survival mechanism. A small elite controls the economy and state apparatus. Aid supplies, black markets, and positions are controlled through bribery.

#2: Somalia – The Non-Functioning State

Somalia hasn’t had a functioning central government for decades. Clan militias and warlords wield real power, and officials demand bribes for basic services. Without press freedom or control bodies, corruption is the primary form of governance.

#1: South Sudan – The Epicenter of Corruption

South Sudan ranks lowest on the CPI – and with good reason. A small elite controls oil revenues, while civil war and political instability have weakened the state. There is no rule of law, and no accountability – making corruption the foundation of society.

Sources: Transparency International – Corruption Perceptions Index 2024, and analyses from Kabulnow.com, Ramanmedianetwork.com, Freedomhouse.org, Warontherocks.com, Amnesty.org, Politico.com, and Wikipedia.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.