Holy men who met their unholy ends
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) can tell us a lot about what's going on in the world. It reveals the nations that are improving in their corruption levels, those that are maintaining the same levels for several years, and even nations that are worsening their corruption practices. The Index ranks 180 nations according to their measurements on a scale from one (most corrupt) to 100 (least corrupt).
The initiative, hosted by Transparency International, produces an invaluable yearly report explaining its findings. In their latest report, the organization noted that 32 countries had significantly improved, while 148 had stayed the same or even worsened.
Want to know which are the most corrupt on the list? Click through the gallery.
What comes to your mind when you think about corruption? Backdoor favors among politicians? Big business receiving advantages with the right connections? Hidden money funneled out of the public sector into private interests?
Corruption is all about influence. Often, influence obstructs policies that tend to benefit the will and desires of the public in favor of the interests and desires of the few. One major area of corruption that the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) highlights is our ability to make meaningful progress in terms of global climate change crises.
The CPI's 2024 report offers reasons for some hope, but also provides a great deal of ongoing concern. Regions like the Middle East and North Africa have actually improved their average score, while Sub-Saharan Africa remains riddled with corruption, as brave citizens have continuously taken to the streets to highlight.
The highest ranked region remains Western Europe and the European Union, more generally, but it has experienced a notable decrease for the second year in a row as political leadership is failing to enforce legislation in favor of the common good and instead prioritizes private business interests.
A crumbling of public institutions and mass political corruption have caused immense suffering for the Lebanese people. Lebanon scored 22/100, indicating worsening corruption. The newly formed government in 2025 gives hope that positive change will occur.
Since 2020, the Russian nation has continued to experience a consistently worsening crisis in terms of corruption, impacting various aspects of daily life in the country.
Although Cambodia put harsh sentencing in place for any violation of its anti-corruption laws, the nation struggles to enforce them in a practical manner. Corruption permeates throughout society for the most basic needs and services.
Chad, located in Central Africa, scored 21/100 on the CPI Index, improving one point since 2023. Despite enacting anti-corruption legislation, the nation still struggles with the enforcement of such laws.
The East African nation of Comoros consists of an archipelago just off the coast. The nation, scoring 21/100, is attempting to make improvements to combat its corruption crises, which reflects its improved CPI Index score.
Guinea-Bissau scores 21/100 on the CPI Index, experiencing a one-point reduction since the 2023 ranking was issued. As one of the most corrupt nations in the world, Guinea-Bissau also experiences extreme poverty, with the public service experiencing weakened conditions.
Zimbabwe scores 21/100 on the CPI Index. The Sub-Saharan nation experienced a three-point reduction since 2023, marking an unfortunate regression for the nation. Bribery and extortion are rampant throughout the country.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is experiencing mass civil unrest at this time. The fragile state has experienced and continues to experience extreme bouts of violence, political instability, and significant abuses of power.
Tajikistan scores 19/100 on the CPI Index. The Central Asian country has experienced an increase in corruption since the 2023 report was issued. Bribes and smugglers permeate all parts of society.
Afghanistan scores 17/100 on the CPI Index. The nation has experienced decades of political turmoil that has also resulted in an increase in corruption, particularly in issues of bribery.
Burundi's institutions face issues regarding transparency, instability, and accountability. Weak institutions contribute to administrative corruption throughout the country.
Turkmenistan has experienced ongoing corruption within both public institutions and in its private sectors. While the nation has taken on some international standards, they are not adhered to systematically.
Haiti scores 16/100 on the CPI Index. The nation, fraught with political instability and violence, has long battled corruption issues at nearly every institutional level.
Myanmar has experienced many issues due to ongoing political instability. Corruption is widespread and extensive throughout the nation, impeding the nation's ability to attract foreign investment
North Korea scored 15/100 on the CPI Index. The nation decreased its corruption score by two points, demonstrating a worsening condition of corruption issues.
Riddled with an ongoing civil war that is tearing the nation apart and causing the failure of public institutions, the political context in Sudan has certainly worsened existing corruption issues. Scoring 15/100 with a five-point drop since 2023, the situation in the country is worrisome.
Nicaragua has long struggled with issues of corruption. The Central American country scored 14/100 on the CPI Index, with a drop of three points over the course of a year. Known as a legacy of the Ortega dictatorship, the nation battles the theft of public resources.
Equatorial Guinea is part of an unfortunate group of nations that is dealing with high levels of corruption. The Central African nation has extensive issues with political corruption that permeates all sectors of society.
Eritrea received a score of 13/100, dropping eight points since 2023. The nation, which was comparatively stable in its corruption levels, has significantly and consistently worsened.
Libya scored 13/100, dropping five points in just one year on the CPI Index. Smugglers and armed groups have worsened an already existing widespread corruption crisis in the country.
Yemen continues to suffer immensely under an ongoing civil war. The nation, dropping three points in 2024 alone on the CPI Index, continues to struggle amidst intensifying corruption.
During the al-Assad regime, the nation waged a war of intimidation upon its citizens. Torture, disappearances, and other human rights violations were widely practiced. Despite the low score for 2024, there is hope the nation will improve its issues of corruption in the near future.
Venezuela scored 10/100 on the CPI Index. Chronic corruption scandals continue to riddle the nation, in conjunction with drug smugglers and other tragic realities that have the nation primed for devastation.
Somalia received a score of 9/100, dropping a further two points since 2023. Although the nation's constitution outlines punishment for various forms of corruption, the issue remains rampant amidst an ongoing conflict.
Receiving the lowest CPI score, South Sudan struggles with corruption in every sector of society. Its pervasive nature along institutional lines and tribal contexts makes the issue difficult to address in a holistic manner.
Sources: (Transparency International)
The world's most corrupt nations, according to Transparency International
Improvements and decay throughout the world
LIFESTYLE Cpi index
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) can tell us a lot about what's going on in the world. It reveals the nations that are improving in their corruption levels, those that are maintaining the same levels for several years, and even nations that are worsening their corruption practices. The Index ranks 180 nations according to their measurements on a scale from one (most corrupt) to 100 (least corrupt).
The initiative, hosted by Transparency International, produces an invaluable yearly report explaining its findings. In their latest report, the organization noted that 32 countries had significantly improved, while 148 had stayed the same or even worsened.
Want to know which are the most corrupt on the list? Click through the gallery.