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The Most Corrupt Countries in the World

Updated June 14, 2019 1.4m views180 items

Corruption is prevalent in almost every country in the world—but some are more corrupt than others. This is a complete list of the most corrupt countries in the world, ranked in order of how corrupt the country's government is. Many countries have made it to this list, thanks to its corrupt politicians with illegal money-making skills, lest we forget any corrupt world leaders. In these countries of the world, bribery and corruption are rampant. Somalia is ranked the top most corrupt country.

Featuring corrupt governments to the world's highest crime rates, these top 50 corrupt nations include Somalia, North Korea, South Sudan, Syria, North Korea, and Yemen.

This list of corrupt countries of the world is sorted from the most corrupt countries to the least corrupt countries, based on information from Transparency International, 2018.

1
Somalia
Mogadishu
Language: Arabic Language, Somali Language
Founded: 1960-06-26
Currency: Somali shilling
Area: 637657.0
Government: Federal republic, Republic, Parliamentary republic
Anthem: Qolobaa Calankeed, Soomaaliyeey toosoo
Divisions: Lower Shebelle, Woqooyi Galbeed, Middle Juba, Awdal, Middle Shebelle
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2
South Sudan
Juba
Language: English Language
Founded: 2011-07-09
Currency: South Sudanese pound
Area: 619745.0
Government: Representative democracy, Presidential system, Federal republic, Republic
Anthem: South Sudan Oyee!
Divisions: Central Equatoria, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, Western Equatoria, Jonglei
South Sudan, officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in northeastern... more
3
Syria
Damascus
Language: Arabic Language
Founded: 1961-09-28
Currency: Syrian pound
Area: 185180.0
Government: Semi-presidential system, Unitary republic
Anthem: Humat ad-Diyar
Divisions: As-Suwayda, Daraa, Tartus Governorate, Deir ez-Zor, Lattakia
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4
North Korea
Pyongyang
Language: Korean Language
Founded: 1919-03-01
Currency: North Korean won
Area: 120540.0
Government: Single-party state, Juche, Totalitarianism, Family dictatorship
Anthem: Aegukka
Divisions: Kaesong, South Hamgyong Province, North Pyongan, Kangwon Province, Ryanggang Province
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5
Yemen
Sana'a
Language: Arabic Language
Founded: 1990-05-22
Currency: Yemeni rial
Area: 527970.0
Government: Presidential system, Republic, Constitutional republic, Unitary state
Anthem: United Republic
Divisions: Abyan Governorate, Hajjah Governorate, Dhamar Governorate, Sana'a Governorate, Al Bayda' Governorate
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6
Afghanistan
Kabul
Language: Farsi, Eastern Language, Pashto language
Founded: 1919-08-08
Currency: Afghan afghani
Area: 652225.0
Government: Islamic republic
Anthem: Afghan National Anthem
Divisions: Helmand Province, Takhar Province, Faryab Province, Zabul Province, Paktika Province
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7
Equatorial Guinea
Malabo
Language: French Language, Portuguese Language, Spanish Language
Founded: 1968-10-12
Currency: Central African CFA franc
Area: 28051.0
Government: Presidential system, Republic, Dictatorship, Unitary state
Anthem: Caminemos pisando las sendas de nuestra inmensa felicidad
Divisions: Litoral Province, Kié-Ntem Province, Bioko Sur Province, Centro Sur Province, Annobón Province
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8
Guinea-Bissau
Bissau
Language: Portuguese Language
Founded: 1973-09-24
Currency: West African CFA franc
Area: 36120.0
Government: Republic, Semi-presidential system
Anthem: Esta É a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada
Divisions: Quinara Region, Biombo Region, Bissau Region, Bolama Region, Bafatá Region
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9
Sudan
Khartoum
Language: Arabic Language, English Language
Founded: 1956-01-01
Currency: Sudanese pound
Area: 2505813.0
Government: Representative democracy, Presidential system, Federal republic
Anthem: Nahnu Jund Allah Jund Al-watan
Divisions: Darfur Regional Authority, River Nile, Darfur, Sennar, Northern
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10
Burundi
Bujumbura
Language: Kirundi language, French Language
Founded: 1962-07-01
Currency: Burundian franc
Area: 27830.0
Government: Republic
Anthem: Burundi Bwacu
Divisions: Rutana Province, Mwaro Province, Kayanza Province, Ngozi Province, Cibitoke Province
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11
Libya
Tripoli
Language: Arabic Language
Founded: 1947-02-10
Currency: Libyan dinar
Area: 1759540.0
Government: Provisional government, Parliamentary republic
Anthem: Allahu Akbar, Libya, Libya, Libya
Divisions: Sawfajjin District, Jabal al Akhdar, Kufra District, Zawiya, Libya
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12
Iraq
Baghdad
Language: Arabic Language, Kurdish language
Founded: 1919-10-01
Currency: Iraqi dinar
Area: 437072.0
Government: Federal republic, Republic, Parliamentary system, Parliamentary republic
Anthem: Ardulfurataini Watan, Mawtini
Divisions: Maysan Province, Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate, Saladin Province, Muthanna Province, Dhi Qar Province
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13
Venezuela
Caracas
Language: Spanish Language
Founded: 1811-07-05
Currency: Venezuelan bolívar
Area: 916445.0
Government: Socialist state, Presidential system, Federal republic, Republic, Federation
Anthem: Gloria al Bravo Pueblo
Divisions: Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, Delta Amacuro, Aragua, Barinas, Venezuela
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14
Angola
Luanda
Language: Portuguese Language
Founded: 1975-11-11
Currency: Angolan kwanza
Area: 1246700.0
Government: Presidential system, Republic, Unitary state
Anthem: Angola Avante
Divisions: Cabinda Province, Lunda Norte Province, Moxico Province, Huambo Province, Huíla Province
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15
Chad
N'Djamena
Language: Arabic Language, French Language
Founded: 1960-08-11
Currency: Central African CFA franc
Area: 1284000.0
Government: Presidential system
Anthem: La Tchadienne
Divisions: Lac Prefecture, Salamat Prefecture, Guéra Prefecture, Logone Oriental Prefecture, Mayo-Kébbi Prefecture
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16
Congo
Brazzaville
Language: French Language
Founded: 1960-08-15
Currency: Central African CFA franc
Area: 342000.0
Government: Socialist state, Presidential system, Republic
Anthem: La Congolaise
Divisions: Likouala Department, Cuvette Department, Bouenza Department, Sangha Department, Niari Department
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17
Cambodia
Phnom Penh
Language: Khmer language
Founded: 1953-11-09
Currency: Cambodian riel
Area: 181035.0
Government: Unitary state, Parliamentary system, Constitutional monarchy
Anthem: Nokor Reach
Divisions: Siem Reap Province, Preah Vihear, Battambang Province, Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh
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18
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kinshasa
Language: French Language
Founded: 1960-06-30
Currency: Congolese franc
Area: 2345409.0
Government: Republic, Semi-presidential system
Anthem: Debout Congolais
Divisions: Kasaï-Occidental, Maniema, Bandundu, Sud-Kivu, Katanga Province
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19
Haiti
Port-au-Prince
Language: French Language, Haitian Creole French Language
Founded: 1697
Currency: Haitian gourde
Area: 27751.0
Government: Republic, Semi-presidential system, Unitary state
Anthem: La Dessalinienne
Divisions: Sud Department, Ouest Department, Centre Department, Nippes Department, Artibonite Department
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20
Turkmenistan
Ashgabat
Language: Turkmen Language
Founded: 1991-10-27
Currency: Turkmenistan manat
Area: 488100.0
Government: Presidential system, Republic
Anthem: National anthem of Turkmenistan
Divisions: Ahal Province, Mary Province, Lebap Province, Daşoguz Province, Balkan Province
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21
Zimbabwe
Harare
Language: Shona Language, English Language, Northern Ndebele language
Founded: 1980-04-18
Currency: Botswana pula, South African rand, UK £, Euro, United States dollar
Area: 390580.0
Government: Republic, Semi-presidential system
Anthem: National Anthem of Zimbabwe, Ishe Komborera Africa
Divisions: Harare, Bulawayo, Mashonaland West Province, Midlands Province, Manicaland Province
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22
Mozambique
Maputo
Language: Portuguese Language
Founded: 1975-06-25
Currency: Mozambican metical
Area: 801590.0
Government: Presidential system, Republic
Anthem: Pátria Amada
Divisions: Gaza Province, Manica Province, Inhambane, Nampula Province, Niassa Province
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23
Uzbekistan
Tashkent
Language: Uzbek language
Currency: Uzbekistani som
Area: 447400.0
Government: Presidential system, Republic
Anthem: National Anthem of Uzbekistan
Divisions: Sirdaryo Province, Tashkent, Surxondaryo Province, Jizzakh Province, Namangan Province
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24
Eritrea
Asmara
Language: Arabic Language, Tigrigna Language, English Language
Founded: 1991-05-24
Currency: Eritrean nakfa
Area: 117600.0
Government: Presidential system
Anthem: Ertra, Ertra, Ertra
Divisions: Anseba Region, Northern Red Sea Region, Gash-Barka Region, Debub Region, Maekel Region
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25
Azerbaijan
Baku
Language: Azerbaijani language
Founded: 1991-08-30
Currency: Azerbaijani manat
Area: 86600.0
Government: Presidential system, Republic, Constitutional republic, Unitary state
Anthem: Azərbaycan marşı
Divisions: Shabran District, Ağcabədi, Saatly District, Qazax, Jabrayil District
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