List of world’s most corrupt countries, Somalia badges First

Corruption is a "serious problem" in 40 of the 46 states in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI). 

It ranked Somalia - which has not had an effective central government since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991 - as the most corrupt in the world, along with highly repressive North Korea. 

"This year's index presents a worrying picture, with 40 of 46 countries [in sub-Saharan Africa] showing a serious corruption problem and no improvement for continent powerhouses Nigeria and South Africa," TI said. 

"Indicators for rule of law and justice score particularly badly. 

While some governments are reducing risks for business, there's little change for citizens - as systemic corruption leaves many countries struggling to uphold basic rule of law," it added.

However, there had been an improvement in several countries, notably Senegal where the government had introduced a series of anti-corruptions laws, TI said.

Its anti-corruption index is based on expert opinions of public sector corruption, looking at a range of factors like whether government officials are held to account or go unpunished for corruption, the perceived prevalence of bribery, and whether public institutions respond to citizens' needs.

Nigeria has been ranked as 136 on the list of world’s least corrupt countries in the year 2015.
According to Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index, Nigeria’s rating is a far cry from the top ten in the world as is being speculated in some quarters.

Denmark, the rating revealed, tops the perceptions index for the second consecutive year but more countries are improving than worsening even as the United States and United Kingdom reached their highest rankings ever.

The list released on Wednesday, January, 2016, showed that Denmark scored 91 points out of a possible 100 while North Korea and Somalia remained at the bottom with unchanged scores of 8.


The index is based on expert opinions of public sector corruption, with a focus on certain factors like whether governmental leaders are held to account for or go unpunished for corruption.

Nigeria’s rating on the list of least corrupt countries of the world.

Other perimeters considered include the perceived prevalence of bribery and if public institutions respond to citizens’ needs.

Transparency said there was still a lot of room for improvement in Europe and Central Asia, which is seen as one region.

It said: “In low-scorers Hungary, Poland and Turkey, politicians and their cronies are increasingly hijacking state institutions to shore up power.
“It’s even grimmer further down the index. In Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and others, governments are restricting, if not totally stifling, civil society and free media.”

Check out the index of the least and most corrupt countries below:

The ranking of the least corrupt countries in the world.

Nigeria’s rating on the corrupt countries’ list.