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Most Corrupt Countries 2023
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 | CPI Score 2022 🔼 |
|---|---|
| Somalia | 12 |
| Syria | 13 |
| South Sudan | 13 |
| Venezuela | 14 |
| Yemen | 16 |
| North Korea | 17 |
| Burundi | 17 |
| Haiti | 17 |
| Libya | 17 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 17 |
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.
Top 10 Most Corrupt Countries in the World (2023 Best Countries rankings):
Country | CPI Score 2022 🔽 |
|---|---|
| Denmark | 90 |
| Finland | 87 |
| New Zealand | 87 |
| Norway | 84 |
| Sweden | 83 |
| Singapore | 83 |
| Switzerland | 82 |
| Netherlands | 80 |
| Germany | 79 |
| Ireland | 77 |
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.
Source
The lack of countries that coincide on the two lists of top 10 most corrupt countries in the world according to the CPI and to US News sources does not stem from the difference in years surveyed (2022 vs 2023). These organizations use different research methods and criteria to rank countries in terms of corruption.
Note: Lower scores denote higher corruption
Which country is world's most corrupt?
One metric considers Somalia the most corrupt country in the world. A different survey considers Russia the most corrupt country.