Who's most corrupt?
Corruption is still more prevalent in some parts of the world than you might think. Using Transparency International's 2016 annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) analyzing public sector corruption, we count down the world's most and least corrupt countries.
Joint 18th) Japan
Corruption score: 72 (out of 100, where 100 equals no corruption). The Japanese are fortunate to live a life relatively free of corruption in both the economic and political sphere. However, the county is let down by a practice called “amakudari” where senior politicians retire to executive or high-profile positions within the corporate realm, in particular the pharmaceutical, transportation, and construction sectors.
Joint 18th) Ireland
Corruption score: 73. Ireland has improved its score from the year before. The Prevention of Corruption Act forbids individuals from giving or accepting bribes, including those to foreign public officials. Companies registered under the Irish Companies Act can be prosecuted for foreign bribery offences, while companies can be found liable for corrupt acts committed by individuals working for them.
Joint 16th) United States of America
Corruption score: 74. The US has moved up the rankings over the past two years. Corruption within the government is usually foiled by watchdog groups bringing to light any irregularities within institutions. Another important factor to remember is the role the free press and investigative journalism play in keeping the government and organisations in check.
Joint 16th) Austria
Corruption score: 75. In 2014, Austria had a score of 72. The Austrian Penal Code criminalizes extortion, fraud, attempted corruption, embezzlement, bribery of foreign officials and politicians, and money laundering.
Joint 18th) Hong Kong
Corruption score: 77. The main anti-corruption law in Hong Kong is the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO), which governs corruption in the private and public sectors. The powers of arrest, search and seizure, and detention are also permitted by the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance (ICAC). The ICAC also ensures there is no corrupt and illegal conduct in various public elections, including the Chief Executive election.
15th) Belgium
Corruption score: 77. Belgium’s Criminal Code prevents bribery of both national and foreign officials, and criminalizes private and public bribery.
Joint 13th) Iceland
Corruption score: 79. There is low tolerance for corruption in Iceland. The General Penal Code criminalizes abuse of office, fraud, trading in influence and giving and receiving a bribe. Individuals and companies are both criminally liable and bribery between foreign public officials and businesses is forbidden.
Joint 13th) Australia
Corruption score: 79. The Criminal Code in Australia oversees bribery of foreign and domestic public officials. As a way of ensuring corruption remains low, those convicted can receive a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and/or a fine of up to AU$1.1 million ($840,000/£650,000). For a business, the penalty is a fine of up to AU$17 million ($13m/£10m), or three times the value of the obtained undue benefit, or 10% of the annual turnover of the company during the period in question.
Joint 10th) United Kingdom
Corruption score: 81. Although there are instances of abuse in positions of administrative power, the UK promotes high ethical standards in public service. Corruption offences committed anywhere in the world, including bribery between businesses and of foreign public officials, are strictly forbidden under the UK Bribery Act.
Joint 10th) Luxembourg
Corruption score: 81. The country has a strong legal framework to curb corruption, and anti-corruption laws are effectively enforced.
Joint 10th) Germany
Corruption score: 81. The German Criminal Code applies to individuals, and makes it illegal to pay, offer or accept a bribe, while companies are held civilly liable under the Administrative Offences Act, with fines of up to 10 million Euros ($11m/£8.6m) and all ‘economic advantages’ obtained through bribery confiscated.
9th) Canada
Corruption score: 82. Canada stays strong in 9th place. The main anti-corruption legislation is the Criminal Code of Canada, which prohibits extortion, corruption, abuse of office, bribery and influence peddling. Similarly, facilitation payments and gift-giving are criminalized by the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act. Canadian courts’ jurisdiction allows the prosecution of companies and individuals who commit corruption abroad.
Joint 5th) Netherlands
Corruption score: 83. The Dutch Penal Code ensures that public administration is transparent, as it makes it illegal for anyone to give or receive bribes in the private or public sector, including a foreign public official. Dutch and foreign companies and their subsidiaries can be held liable for corruption offences committed by individuals working on their behalf and can be ordered to pay up to 10% of their turnover.
8th) Singapore
Corruption score: 84. Corruption is low in Singapore thanks to multiple safeguards and intense audit controls. Anti-corruption legislation laws include the Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), which prohibits gifts and facilitation payments in the public and private sector, bribery and active and passive bribery. Punishments include fines of up to SG$100,000 ($80,000/£56,000), prison sentences of up to seven years and sometimes both.
Joint 5th) Norway
Corruption score: 85. In Norway, petty bribery and administrative corruption are almost non-existent, which says a lot for the judicial system. The Norwegian Penal Code criminalises breach of trust, active and passive bribery, money laundering, trading in influence and fraud. This applies to anyone registered in Norway and could see up to 10 years’ imprisonment for those who commit the offence, even if the act is committed abroad. And companies may also be held liable for individuals’ behavior.
7th) Switzerland
Corruption score: 86. Two acts safeguard the integrity of Switzerland. The Criminal Code criminalizes active and passive bribery, along with the bribery of foreign public officials, while the Unfair Competition Act governs bribery in the private sector. A company may be fined up to CHF5 million ($5.15m/£4m), along with criminal prosecution for corruption acts committed by individuals working on its behalf.
3rd) Sweden
Corruption score: 88. The Swedish government has implemented anti-corruption laws effectively, and the strong rule of law in Sweden, paired with Sweden’s Penal Code, sees many forms of corruption are criminalized. As there is no distinction between so-called ‘facilitation’ payments and bribery, there is no exception for facilitation payments ever. Similarly, companies should look out for the Code on Gifts, Rewards and other Benefits in Business, published as a supplement to Penal Code changes.
2nd) Finland
Corruption score: 89. The Criminal Code protects against active and passive bribery, embezzlement, abuse of office, fraud, and both people and companies are liable for offences. The Finnish regulatory system is transparent, and there is almost non-existent administrative corruption – thanks to the administrative culture of openness, a strong system of internal and external controls and the involvement of civil society in public affairs management.
4th) New Zealand
Corruption score: 90. New Zealand's Crimes Act and the Secret Commissions Act ensure active and passive bribery in the private and public sector is prohibited. Penalties can reach NZ$2,000 (US$1,450/£1,100) and 14 years of imprisonment. Similarly, public officials are unable to ask for or accept gifts through the State Services Commission Code of Conduct.
1st) Denmark
Corruption score: 90. For the third year running, Denmark has topped the chart as the least corrupt country in the world, but shares the title with New Zealand this time. The Danish Criminal Code forbids active and passive bribery and most other corruption offences contained in international anti-corruption conventions. Safeguards against corruption and abuse of power in Denmark primarily rest with a strong belief in integrity rather than with formal rules and regulations.
The most corrupt countries
Now we count down the world's 20 most corrupt countries.
Joint 19th) Democratic Republic of Congo
Corruption score: 21 (out of 100, where 100 equals no corruption). There has been ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for decades. Warlord Thomas Lubanga was sentenced to 14 years in jail for using child soldiers in his rebel army in 2002 and 2003, while M23 rebels have been a major fighting force in the eastern parts of the country, and there have been reports of military abuses of power.
Uzbekistan
Corruption score: 21. Uzbekistan’s corruption ranking stems from President Islam Karimov, whose Communist Party rules the nation with a ruthless authoritarian approach, making the political system ripe for bribery and personal gain.
Burundi
Corruption score: 20. Since becoming a republic in 1966, this East African nation has seen high levels of corruption. The main culprits are the regional police, revenue authorities and the judiciary system. Recently the United Nations was denied access to the country to investigate reports of human rights abuses.
Joint 14th) Central African Republic
Corruption score: 20. The Central African Republic was thrown into disarray in 2013 when Muslim rebels seized power in the majority Christian country. The Christian ex-president Francois Bozize was ousted in a coup in 2013 by rebels, which unleashed violence between Muslims and Christian militias, leaving thousands dead.
Joint 14th) Chad
Corruption score: 20. Although Chad has been an oil-producing nation since 2003, the people of Chad do not enjoy the wealth. Africa's fifth-largest nation suffers from inadequate infrastructure and internal conflict. President Idriss Deby seems to have minimal domestic support as the people think he puts his clan before his country. Poverty is also a major issue in Chad, and health and social conditions are unfavorable.
Haiti
Corruption score: 20. This Caribbean country has a long history of corruption with dubious dealings and crime rife in the country’s towns and cities. Unfortunately, the government isn’t much better, with the recent election for a new president marred by violent protests and accusations of fraud from presidential candidates.
Joint 14th) Republic of Congo
Corruption score: 20. Corruption has risen in the Republic of the Congo (also known as Congo-Brazzaville) over the past year and almost every sector of the economy suffers from it. President Sassou Nguesso still holds a tight grip on power, which means government institutions become more susceptible to political interference.
Angola
Corruption score: 18. Angola has dropped down the rankings from 5th to joint 12th place this year. The African nation that borders Namibia, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo can thank years of widespread government corruption and devastating poverty for its ranking. In Angola, 70% of the population live on $2 (£1.40) a day or less. One in six children die before the age of five, making it the deadliest place in the world to be a child.
Eritrea
Corruption score: 18. Eritrea has long been marred by severe corruption, and this year remains in the same position. The nation has undeveloped legal, economic and political policies in place and no independent press. The nation’s people face poverty and have few human rights.
Iraq
Corruption score: 17. The country continues to struggle to contain the growing power of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIL). Maintaining a strong and stable government remains this country’s biggest challenge with institutional reforms constantly delayed, as well as ongoing political infighting and deep-rooted corruption.
Venezuela
Corruption score: 17. Venezuela once again finds itself sitting at the wrong end of the list due to its corrupt government. But in good news for the country, for the first time in 16 years an opposition coalition won an overwhelming victory to reform the government. Its first order of business: release dozens of politicians and activists jailed under the former President Maduro and demand transparent inflation figures.
Guinea-Bissau
Corruption score: 16. Located on West Africa’s Atlantic coast this small country is riddled with crooked dealings. A major hub for cocaine smugglers from Latin America to Europe, several senior military figures are alleged to be involved in the trafficking of narcotics.
Afghanistan
Corruption score: 15. Afghanistan has moved out of the top five positions this year but the country still lies at a crossroads of corruption and conflict. Despite having an internationally-recognized government set up in 2004, it continues to lack the power to implement any sustainable changes due to unrelenting challenges from the Taliban. A US Congress watchdog found Afghanistan's corruption levels remain high due to the sheer volume of aid and lack of oversight.
Libya
Corruption score: 14. Despite the death of disgraced former president Muammar Gaddafi, Libya remains in turmoil. Political parties are backed by rival militia groups and continue to fight for power, leaving the country open to human trafficking, arms dealers and a corrupt military.
Sudan
Corruption score: 14. After two rounds of devastating civil war, which claimed the lives of over 1.5 million people, Sudan has struggled to find its feet in the face of corruption. As a result of a failing government, approximately 65% of the country’s people live below the poverty line.
Yemen
Corruption score: 14. In recent years Yemen, bordered by Saudi Arabia and Oman, has become a popular base for militant groups like Al-Qaeda and Islamic State, only adding to the country’s instability and corruption. Political exploitation continues to cripple the nation’s economy.
Syria
Corruption score: 13. Syria has soared up the rankings from joint 12th to 4th. Already accused as being one of the most corrupt countries in the Middle East, Syria is struggling to uphold government in the face of attack from groups like ISIS and the nation’s Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al Nusra. In 2016, the UN awarded contracts to people closely associated with the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, as part of an aid program which could see corruption rise even further.
North Korea – joint most corrupt country
Corruption score: 12. Although North Korea may have moved down the rankings from joint 1st to 3rd, the country is the epitome of a dictatorship with its government dealings, led by the autocratic Kim Jong-Un, shrouded in mystery. Military spending outweighs that of social aid with the totalitarian state consistently accused of abusing basic human rights.
South Sudan
Corruption score: 11. South Sudan has risen up the rankings from the 5th most corrupt country in 2015 to the second most now. According to the United Nations, the war-ravaged country is facing possible famine. A two-year investigation by campaign group the Sentry found that South Sudanese leaders are making profits as the country is beset by civil war, which has claimed the lives of four million people, and has prevented deliveries of human aid.
Somalia – joint most corrupt country
Corruption score: 10. For the fifth year in a row Somalia is the world’s most corrupt nation. Torn apart by rival warlords in the early 90s, the frail government has since failed makes any long-term improvements to the nation, and face constant challenges from Al-Qaeda-aligned Al-Shabab insurgents.
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