List of the most corrupt countries in the world according to Transparency International. Russia remained unchanged in the corruption perception rating

Illustration copyright Thinkstock Image caption According to experts, Russia is fulfilling international obligations to combat corruption, but the real fight is still far away

International movement Transparency International has published the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), its flagship annual study, which ranks countries around the world based on how experts and entrepreneurs assess the level of corruption in the public sector.

The lower a country is in the index, the higher its level of perception of corruption.

At the end of 2016, Russia took 131st place out of 176 in the index, sharing it with Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Iran and Nepal.

Compared to the 2015 index, Russia’s position has not actually changed: it received the same number of points (29 out of 100), and the decrease in its position in the ranking (from 119th to 131st place) is due to the fact that this year it taken into account large quantity countries, notes Transparency International.

Last year, Russia's neighbors were included in the index.

First place in the 2016 CPI was shared by Denmark and New Zealand (90 points each), Finland took second (89 points), and Sweden took third (88 points).

The UK, Germany and Luxembourg took 10th place in the index (81 points), the USA - 18th place (74 points), China, Brazil, Belarus and India - 79th place (40 points).

Shooting ducks

The most important external factor Transparency International believes that the leak of documents from the Mossack Fonseca company (Panama Archives) influenced the situation in the CPI-2016 of Russia and other countries. Publications on this topic featured offshore companies of people close to high-ranking Russian officials.

Belarus received in the IVK-2016 compared to last year

As a result, it ranked higher in the index than Argentina, Mexico and Thailand - at 79th place

Transparency International

Estonia ranks in the IVK-2016

1st place among post-Soviet countries

Transparency International

According to the General Director of Transparency International - Russia, Anton Pominov, in 2016 in Russia, “the previously existing tendency to clarify the norms of anti-corruption legislation was supplemented by an unrestrained hunt for individual corrupt officials and those equivalent to them.”

Vice-President of Transparency International Elena Panfilova believes that the hunt for corrupt officials in Russia is only similar to the real thing: “In fact, satisfied visitors shoot ducks at the shooting range from a pre-prepared gun, which the owner has carefully placed on shelves.”

Russian authorities, on the contrary, believe that the country is waging a systematic fight against corruption. In January 2017, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that over the 11 months of last year, 28.4 thousand corruption-related crimes were identified in Russia, including 5.5 thousand cases of taking bribes and 4.6 thousand cases of giving bribes.

Based on the results of the study, Transparency International formulated recommendations for Russia, which, among other things, is advised to ensure the election of court chairmen, adopt laws on lobbying activities and the protection of whistleblowers of corruption, and oblige law enforcement agencies to respond to civil and journalistic investigations.

“True anti-corruption and the subsequent development of the country are possible only when institutions begin to strengthen, the most important of which are transparent, fair elections to control politicians from the head of the village council to the president, as well as independence from any branch of government, endowed with the trust of citizens and business. and an effective, and not for a stick, working system of the rule of law,” sums up Anton Pominov.

Transparency International has produced the Corruption Perceptions Index every year since 1995.

The index is calculated based on data for the last two years (2015-2016) collected by the World Bank, Freedom House, International Institute management development and nine other independent organizations.

Illustration copyright Getty Images

For three years, the situation with corruption in Russia has not changed, but it has improved in its closest neighbors, including Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

This is evidenced by data from the study “Corruption Perception Index” by the international organization Transparency International.

In a list of 180 countries in the world, Russia ranks 135th (the lower it is, the more corrupt the country is considered). On the same level as Russia are DominicanRRepublic, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mexico And Papua New Guinea.

Since 2015, Russia’s score, which determines its place on the list, has not changed (29).

"A number of high-profile corruption cases in Russia, including the trial of a former minister economic development Alexey Ulyukaev and former governors Nikita Belykh and Alexander Khoroshavin did not make a sufficient impression on respondents,” Transparency said.

Worse than the neighbors

If last year they were on par with Russia Ukraine And Kazakhstan, then this year they went a little ahead and took 130th and 122nd places, respectively. On the same line with Russia Kyrgyzstan(similar in last time happened in 2014).

And here’s what Russia’s place looked like among former and current members of the Commonwealth independent states during the years of change of power in the 21st century, that is, from the beginning of Vladimir Putin’s first term (the research methodology periodically changed, and the composition of the countries included in it expanded).

Most of the post-Soviet countries change places from year to year, although their results remain quite close to each other. The gap between Ukraine and Russia, for example, is extremely insignificant, emphasizes CEO"Transparency International - Russia" Anton Pominov in an interview with the BBC Russian Service.

“There is no particular trust in the anti-corruption policy of the Ukrainian authorities,” he notes.

Exception - Georgia, which made significant progress in the fight against corruption when Mikheil Saakashvili was president of the country (2004-2013), and continues to lead by a significant margin.

Positive dynamics are noticeable in Belarus. “Nothing is happening in the country: stability. Minor progress is being made in the anti-corruption sphere, so Belarus is growing compared to its neighbors,” explains Pominov.

From New Zealand to South Sudan

Somalia and South Sudan are again recognized as outsiders.

Transparency International has produced the Corruption Perceptions Index every year since 1995.

The index is calculated based on data for the last two years (2016-2017) collected by the World Bank, Freedom House, the International Institute for Management Development and other independent organizations.

In Russia, the local branch of Transparency International is recognized as a “foreign agent”, since its activities are financed from abroad.

The anti-corruption non-governmental organization Transparency International has published its annual list of the most corrupt countries in the world on a 10-point scale, where 0 is the most corrupt country and 10 is the least corrupt. Compared to last year, some countries have changed their positions in this ranking. Thus, the USA, Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary and some other countries became less corrupt in 2010 compared to the past. Analysts attribute this to the financial crisis. The most corrupt countries are also the poorest.

(Total 20 photos)

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The most corrupt countries.

1. 1st place - Somalia, 1.1

Despite civil wars and conflicts, Somalia has a relatively healthy informal economic activity, based mainly on household, livestock, translation Money and telecommunications.

2. 2nd place - Myanmar, 1.4

Formerly known as Burma, the southeast Asian nation has been plagued by military junta rule, civil war and economic disaster for more than 20 years. Most of the population lives below the poverty line, but many hope that new constitution, introduced this year, will change lives for the better.

3. 2nd place, Afghanistan, 1.4

Since the late 1970s, Afghanistan has been mired in continuous civil war and occupation. The country also suffers from the activities of the Taliban.

4. 4th place – Iraq, 1.5

The current Iraqi government is less than ten years old and remains dependent on US occupation forces.

5. 5th place – Uzbekistan, 1.6

The country is considered a presidential republic, but imposes certain limits on human rights. Uzbekistan is often criticized for its human rights policies. In the photo: the graves of those killed in the Uzbek city of Andijan in 2005, when soldiers of President Islam Karimov opened fire on protesters.

6. 5th place – Sudan, 1.6

One of the world's poorest countries, Sudan has been ruled by dictators for decades, and the International Criminal Court has found one of the country's recent presidents guilty of war crimes.

7. 5th place – Turkmenistan, 1.6

The country's government is considered repressive. The country has a one-party political system.

8. 8th place – Chad, 1.7

Chad's main export product is oil. And bribes are an integral part of this business. Recently, an attempt was made to overthrow the ruling party, the Patriotic Liberation Movement.

Burundi has the most low level GDP per capita in the world. The country has been plagued by military conflicts between tribes for decades.

10. 10th place – Republic of Equatorial Guinea, 1.9

Crude oil is the country's largest export product. However, Guinea is constantly criticized for violating human rights. The government is unstable, and the current president came to power after a rebellion.

Least corrupt countries.

11. 10th place – Norway, 8.6

Norway, one of the four Scandinavian countries on the list of least corrupt countries, has an Anglo-Saxon code of law that is more than 1,000 years old.

12. 8th place, Switzerland, 8.7

Known for its neutrality and private banking system, the population of this country is uniform and educated.

13. 8th place, Australia, 8.7

The former colony is now one of the main democratic powers in the world, the closest ally of the United States and other Western countries. The country supports freedom of speech and boasts a highly educated population.

14. 7th place – Netherlands, 8.9

The Netherlands is one of the oldest parliamentary democracies in the world. Here it is international Court UN and other representatives of global legislative power.

15. 6th place – Canada, 9.1

Canada is another parliamentary democracy with advanced legislation, a strong diversified economy and a well-educated workforce.

16. 4th place - Sweden, 9.2

This politically stable country has had a highly trained workforce with important skills in mastering new technologies since the mid-17th century.

17. 4th place – Finland, 9.2

Finland is one of the Scandinavian countries on the list of least corrupt countries. Like its neighbors, Finland is a wealthy country with a high level of quality of life and political stability.

20. 1st place – Denmark, 9.3

By various studies and polls, Denmark is the most happy country for life and the best place for doing business. It is a socialist country with high levels of income equality.

The Corruption Perceptions Index is a global study and accompanying ranking of countries around the world based on the prevalence of corruption in the public sector. Calculated according to the international method non-governmental organization Transparency International, based on a combination of publicly available statistics and global survey results.

The index defines corruption as any abuse of official position for personal gain. The initiators of the project explain their focus on expert surveys by the fact that when measuring corruption, statistical data, for example, the number of criminal cases or court sentences for corruption, as a rule, “do not work.” These data, firstly, are not always available, and secondly, they reflect not so much the real level of corruption as the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies in identifying and suppressing cases of corruption. In this situation, the only reliable source of information, according to researchers, is the opinions and testimonies of those who directly experience corruption (entrepreneurs) or professionally study it (analysts).

The Corruption Perceptions Index is a composite indicator calculated based on data obtained from expert sources provided by international organizations. All sources measure the overall prevalence of corruption (frequency and/or volume of bribes) in the public and economic sectors and include assessments of multiple countries. The sources assess the level of perception of corruption by experts, both living in a particular country and abroad, and are a collection of surveys of entrepreneurs, business risk analysts and country-specific specialists from various international organizations.

The index ranks countries and territories on a scale from 0 (highest level of corruption) to 100 (lowest level of corruption) based on perceptions of the level of corruption in the public sector. In the final rating, along with the number of points and the rank of the country, the number of sources, the difference between the highest/lowest indicator values ​​for each country based on the corresponding sources, the value standard deviation And confidence interval for each country, which allows us to draw conclusions about the accuracy of the Index results for each country.

The organization makes great efforts to ensure the reliability of the primary information used to compile the Index and the validity of the final results. According to established requirements, at least three sources of information are required to include a country in the index. Overall, the Index is relatively reliable tool measurements, however, it also has some disadvantages inherent in expert research. For example, the degree of measurement reliability is not the same for all countries. The Index scores and corresponding ranks of countries whose level of corruption is assessed on the basis of a relatively small number of sources and which are characterized by a large spread in assessments may ultimately turn out to be not entirely adequate.

Since noticeable changes in the level of corruption occur rather slowly, the Index mainly contains average data collected over three last year, that is, it gives an idea of ​​the current assessments of the level of corruption by experts, almost without focusing on the shifts that occur from year to year. Therefore, the study does not always reflect the real dynamics, since its fluctuations may be due to adjustments in the sample, methodology and information sources (not all of which are updated on an annual basis), and the country’s place in general list may change greatly simply because the list of countries included in the rating has changed.

Corruption and economic turmoil often go hand in hand. In Western countries such as the United States and many European countries, we often see corruption exposed as a result of whistleblower efforts or investigative journalism. But in many other areas of the world, corruption plays important role in perpetuating staggering poverty and collapsing economic systems.

Often, specific power structures and control architectures offer easier ways for corrupt politicians, businessmen, or military personnel to exploit the system. Many governments find their roots in the constitutions of past generations and have outgrown their current systems. Many other countries are ruled by many independent tribal leaders and often lack a centralized power structure with any meaningful influence.

Transparency International developed full list most corrupt countries in the world last year, and the countries that top the list probably won't come as much of a surprise to many. The study ranks countries on a scale of 0 to 100, with zero being the most corrupt and 100 being the least.

Of course, corruption manifests itself in various forms, so getting an accurate estimate is incredibly difficult. But perception itself is a very powerful tool and can have a big effect on its own. If the research shows anything, it is that the world as a whole has a huge problem in terms of corrupt officials.

Looking at the Corruption Perceptions Index, alongside the existing power structures and economic systems in each country, the picture does become a little clearer. That's why the authors went a little deeper into the rankings presented on the following pages.

Just in case, they included the United States on the list to give perspective where America ranks on international level in terms of corruption and economic struggle. According to calculations and scales Transparency International The US has settled down quite positively, although it is common knowledge that there are definitely problems with the way things work in Washington.

Other countries you might expect to see, such as Russia, Mexico or Venezuela, all have their places and the full list of 177 countries can be viewed directly in the source from Transparency International.

Here are the most corrupt countries in the world, according to estimates Transparency International, with additional insight into the challenges and factors plaguing each one.

1. Somalia

• Corruption Score: 8
• Power structure: Almost none; “In the process of building a federal parliamentary republic” - CIA data

Somalia may just be the most unstable country on the entire planet. The country became infamous in the US as being responsible for the incident Blackhawk Down, as well as due to pirates who are known to hijack passing ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The country is barely held together by an incredibly loose central government, and is more precisely ruled by many competing clans and warlords, creating much hostility and division.

The environment in Somalia has led to a difficult life for many of the country's citizens. On the economic front, many people make a living from livestock raising or farming and other livelihoods from fishing. Of course, remaining in such disarray at the top of the power structure makes any long-term planning for social programs and infrastructure extremely difficult.

According to the World Bank, only 29 percent of the country's population went to school, and life expectancy is a paltry 55 years. Both of these numbers rank well below most other countries and provide some insight into the internal struggles the country is experiencing.

Besides these things, information about internal work Somalia's government and its economic system are lacking. This in itself is quite significant, since corrupt officials may not want an outsider's view of true picture what is happening within the country's borders.

2. North Korea

• Corruption Score: 8
• Power structure: Dictatorship

The largest unpredictable symbol in the world - North Korea. There is little doubt in anyone's opinion that the country is highly corrupt, having been effectively brought down in the last half century by Kim Jong-sung, Kim Jong-il and now Kim Jong-in, all of whom the country's citizens affectionately call "Head of State". The CIA shows the North Korean government as a 'communist state of individual dictatorship', with an estimated GDP of $28 billion as of 2009.

Known for having very little electricity and sending its citizens to prison camps, North Korea's government and economy are effectively shrouded in secrecy. While it does receive aid from countries like China, North Korea has apparently had trouble producing enough fuel and food to properly care for its citizens. Military spending far outweighs spending on social programs and aid, mainly to lock down the rest of the world and control citizens.

The country's main problems can be traced to a number of natural Disasters and collapse Soviet Union as the land, people and equipment have all been "worn out" over the years, according to a CNN report. With little hope of change in the near future, North Korea is, for now, destined to remain one of the most corrupt and deprived countries on the planet.

3. Afghanistan

• Corruption Score: 8
• Power structure: Islamic republic

Afghanistan has incredible difficult story to try to match. The area has been inhabited for a very long time - and the geographical location has also placed it in the midst of many conflicts over hundreds, if not thousands of years. There is a reason the country is stuck with the nickname 'graveyard of empires', as it is incredibly difficult to not only conquer, but also keep under control.

The country is loosely held by a central government that is largely power-starved and has been deceived by myriad local tribal chiefs and warlords, as we have seen directly with the Taliban and al-Qaeda. A former Soviet state, the country also suffered as a result of the collapse of the USSR.

The country's current president, Hamid Karzai, is notoriously corrupt - he was recently detained for taking large quantity money from the US military, among other things. Afghanistan is also home to the production of a huge amount of the world's heroin, which has created a lot of wealth for a lucky few.

The country's economy has remained in a state of flux for some time, although the fall of the Taliban regime has helped - as there is now a flow of international aid. But it still faces serious challenges in the future.

As the CIA put it, “Crime, insecurity, weak governance, lack of infrastructure and the Afghan government's difficulty in extending the rule of law to all parts of the country pose challenges to future economic growth.”

4. Sudan

• Corruption Score: 11
• Power structure: federal republic

A country that has been completely engulfed in the power of war for many years is African country Sudan. Long-standing conflicts between competing factions and ethnic groups have destabilized the country's ability to operate effectively economically, and the result has been devastating for many of the country's citizens. South Sudan has also recently pulled away from the rest of the country, taking with it vast oil reserves. CNN reports that Sudan's GDP was expected to decline by a fair amount due to secession South Sudan.

The country's government is listed as a federal republic, ruled by the National Congress Party, according to the CIA. The NCP came to power after coup d'etat in 1989 and was not able to successfully restore the national problems. As a result of long-term instability, Sudan's GDP has collapsed since peaking in 2006, much of it attributable to the situation in South Sudan.

Forty-six and a half percent of Sudanese citizens live below the poverty line, according to World Bank calculations. National GDP reaches $66.55 billion. Both of these statistics would likely have seen an improvement if not for some of the NCP's draconian and growth-prohibiting policies. Moreover, if Sudan can find a way to rid itself of some corrupt officials, many armed conflicts could see resolution very quickly.

5. South Sudan

• Corruption Score: 14
• Power structure: republic

One of the youngest countries in the world, South Sudan officially declared independence in 2011, following longstanding conflicts with its mother country, Sudan, which gained its independence in 1956. Between the mid-1950s and today, conflicts in the region have resulted in the deaths of entire 2.5 million people or so, according to the CIA. South Sudan is currently an independent republic consisting of 10 states.

The country is still in its infancy, South Sudan does not have the traditional long-standing government structures that many others have. This has created ripe opportunities for corrupt politicians to intervene, and as a result the country has remained largely undeveloped, with its citizens participating in a subsistence-based economic system. Another issue is the lack of a sense of nationhood among the 200 or so ethnic groups inhabiting the country.

According to the World Bank, the vast majority of South Sudan's GDP—approximately 80 percent—comes from oil exports. This has been a major problem since international oil companies were able to take advantage of weak national government structures and regulatory policies, generating huge profits at the expense of the citizens. In fact, 85 percent labor resources countries are busy with free labor. More than half also live below the poverty line.

6. Libya

• Corruption Score: 15
• Power structure: Transitional

Few nations have experienced as much turmoil over the past few years as Libya. The country's government saw its downfall during a massive uprising and protest that eventually led to a parade of protesters walking with the body former president Muammar Gaddafi on the streets. The country's fall was part of the Arab Spring, which also saw mass protests in Syria, Egypt and Bahrain, among others.

Now, Libya remains embroiled in turmoil. No formal government has taken root, and fighting continues between rebels and those loyal to the old administration. Due to high levels of uncertainty, the country's GDP contracted by 9.4 percent during 2013, according to the World Bank. The power vacuum has left open a prime opportunity for arms dealers and corrupt military bigwigs to take charge and profit by pitting citizens against each other.

Libya currently operates under a transitional government and its administrative and judicial systems are vulnerable to a wide range of external interference. It is an economy based almost entirely on energy, which supplies 95 percent of export revenues and 80 percent of the nation's GDP, according to the CIA. Until a new, permanent government can be installed, Libya is likely to remain a hotbed of political and economic instability.

7. Iraq

• Corruption Score: 16
• Power structure: Federal parliamentary constitutional republic (ostensibly)

Many people may be surprised that Iraq is not higher on the list of the most corrupt countries in the world, but it certainly is. It's not a secret to anybody, Current state affairs in Iraq are in complete disarray. After the second American invasion in 15 years, the retreat of American forces left Iraq with a virtual power vacuum with several different sects vying for power over the reduced combat readiness country. The fighting is mainly concentrated between Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis, but the arrival of ISIS from Syria has added additional challenges.

The CIA lists the Iraqi government as a parliamentary democracy, but the government's legitimacy is certainly up for debate. And there is certainly little debate about whether corruption has become entrenched in the country, since enormous wealth Iraq and Natural resources made it a target for all types of industry and war profiteers.

Iraq has actually seen some economic growth as the country rebuilds itself, but there is also a lot of outside interference from American and European contractors hired to rebuild infrastructure and tap the country's oil reserves. Iraq's future is probably as precarious as any country in the world. It is very possible that the country will disintegrate and turn into three different states, as it was before the Europeans entered the fray in the early 20th century. As for modern times, incredible instability - along with the arrival of ISIS in the north - will keep the country in a constant state of change.

8. Uzbekistan

• Corruption Score: 17
• Power structure: republic

One of the least changed nations in the world, Uzbekistan turns out to be one of the dirtiest countries in the world. From an economic point of view, things seem to be going well with 8 percent growth in GDP during 2013. In fact, World Bank information indicates that Uzbekistan's economy has remained more or less the same due to the financial crisis that has crippled systems in Europe and North America.

The national government was created as a republic with an authoritative presidential figure in the person of Islam Karimov. The vast majority of the country's power is in executive power, making him ripe for corruption. Karimov has been president since Uzbekistan effectively became a country after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, winning three consecutive election terms between five and seven years. Like many other Middle Eastern authority figures, he apparently hasn't grown tired of running the country.

Much of the Uzbek economy relies on agriculture for its sustenance, as the entire country is landlocked and experiences a very dry climate. Many multinational corporations have had run-ins with the country's government, accused of following local laws and customs. This did not stop the administration from trying to attract more business however, through tax incentives and sometimes even bribery.

9. Turkmenistan

• Corruption Score: 17
• Power Structure: Presidential Dem/Hard Hand

Turkmenistan is located in dangerous neighborhood to say the least. Bordered by Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to the north, the country is a virtual breeding ground for corrupt states. With the constant turmoil throughout the Middle East, it was very easy for the country to get caught up in corrupt affairs, especially concentrated at the top from the authoritarian presidential figure, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The CIA file says Turkmenistan likes to describe itself as a secular democracy and presidential republic, while in practice, its government more closely resembles an authoritarian dictatorship. The country itself was founded as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union, like many others in the region, and as a result of the power struggle has left the people with very high levels of corruption and vulnerability to tomfoolery.

Just like many other countries in the region, Turkmenistan's economy is mainly based on agriculture and energy. The country is fortunate to have vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas, in addition to the economy, although they are run by the government. The misuse of government revenues has scared off many investors and led to high levels of corruption.

10. Syria

• Corruption Score: 17
• Power structure: Authoritarian republic

One of the oldest countries in the world is, unfortunately, one of the most corrupt. IN this moment corruption has also become the most important issue as civil war has gripped the country and left thousands dead over the past few years. The uprising in Syria initially began as part of the 'Arab Spring', which saw several dictators through the fall of the region, but Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was able to cling to power through - what many believe to be - fixed elections.

The situation in Syria has quickly devolved into one of the worst humanitarian situations the world has seen in recent memory. The struggle also gave birth to ISIS, a terrorist group that went to Iraq to conquer more territory. Syria's chilling display of government-sponsored violence and corruption has left many around the world awestruck, and has effectively destroyed national economies.

Because of civil war and the terrible conditions under the Assad administration, the outlook in Syria is by no means good. The economy is expected to continue to disintegrate, and it is unlikely that the fighting and bloodshed will end in the near future. Millions of people have fled the country and millions more are hungry or unable to find work. This seems to be the only way Syria will find its happy ending with the final overthrow of its leaders and corrupt administration.

Honorable Mention: United States

• Corruption Score: 73
• power structure: democratic republic

There should be an honorable mention for the United States, many of whose human figures must be the most corrupt nation on Earth. Fact, the US does have a lot of corruption in many forms, like lobbying, bribery, election fraud and bought elections. But according to the Corruption Index, the US pales in comparison to countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

The US economic system - although often portrayed as a "free market" - is often not exactly that. A quick look at telecommunications or energy shows that there are many monopolistic forces - and big money involved - that could often rewrite laws to maintain power and influence. Pressure from big business and labor groups is a major factor in why America is the only major world power without a nationalized health care system, and why there has been a huge increase in inequality, especially recently.

There are definitely a lot of issues that the United States needs to solve - from the financial system to elections - but with the status quo firmly in place, there isn't much sign that citizens should expect much of a change in the near term.