10 most corrupt countries, ranked by perception

Transparency International, the nongovernmental organization based in Germany, defines corruption as the misuse of public power for private benefit. The organization’s most recent version of its Corruption Perceptions Index also states that the failure to significantly control corruption is fueling a global crisis in democracy.

Iraq is perceived to be the most corrupt country in the world, according to U.S. News’ 2021 Best Countries rankings, a characterization of 78 countries based on a survey of more than 17,000 global citizens. In the survey, respondents answered how closely they related each of the countries to the term “not corrupt,” the exact meaning of which was left to their own interpretation. The attribute is factored into the Best Countries rankings for transparency, as well as the best countries to invest in and headquarter a corporation. Iraq finished last among survey respondents.

The Iraqi Commission of Integrity announced that it had charged 63 current and former government ministers with 92 counts of corruption in 2020. A 2018 estimate by the World Bank says that oil accounts for about 90% of central government revenue, while a younger generation of activists continues to criticize the nation’s reliance on oil, arguing that it fuels corruption.

The United States is ranked as No. 24 for being seen as not corrupt, a drop of two positions from 2020. Conversely, Denmark, Canada, and Germany are seen as the most transparent countries in the 2021 Best Countries rankings.

The following are the 10 countries perceived to be the most corrupt:

10. Azerbaijan

Corrupt Rank: 10
Best Countries Overall Rank: 66

9. El Salvador

Corrupt Rank: 9
Best Countries Overall Rank: 77

8. Lebanon

Corrupt Rank: 8
Best Countries Overall Rank: 74

7. Kazakhstan

Corrupt Rank: 7
Best Countries Overall Rank: 72

6. Guatemala

Corrupt Rank: 6
Best Countries Overall Rank: 69

5. Russia

Corrupt Rank: 5
Best Countries Overall Rank: 24

4. Brazil

Corrupt Rank: 4
Overall Best Countries Rank: 26

3. Mexico

Corrupt Rank: 3
Best Countries Overall Rank: 31

2. Colombia

Corrupt Rank: 2
Best Countries Overall Rank: 54

1. Iraq

Corrupt Rank: 1
Best Countries Overall Rank: 78

The 10 Most Corrupt Countries