By Aarthi Swaminathan
Yahoo Finance Writer
Berlin-based think-tank Transparency International published its latest Corruption Perceptions Index, which ranks 180 countries and territories based on how corrupt their administrative and political institutions are perceived to be. The report gives gives each country a score from 100 (least corrupt) to 0 (most corrupt).
“This year’s Corruption Perceptions Index reveals that the continued failure of most countries to significantly control corruption is contributing to a crisis in democracy around the world,” an accompanying analysis stated.
Launched in 1995, the index looked at expert assessments and surveys of business executives in each country to measure the level of public sector corruption.
Four of the five-lowest scoring countries faced violent conflict in recent years, which Transparency International suggests is related to corruption.
Here’s a look at the top 3 most corrupt:
Somalia
Somalia consistently ranks as one of the lowest countries on the index, suffering from chronically weak public institutions and instability. On corruption, the country’s President recently admitted to his parliament that “it’s undeniable that there is corruption in the government committed by some of us.” Somalia is also exceptionally vulnerable to frequent terrorist attacks by an armed group called Al-Shabaab which allies itself with Al-Qaeda.
Syria
Another fraught country in the world — war-torn Syria is also suffering from weak institutions amid persistent instability. Since the Arab Spring broke out across the Middle East, Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad —with heavy backing of Russia and Iran— has retained rule at great cost to Syrian civilians and institutions. The ongoing civil war, which has last nearly 8 years, is now at a stage where a range of foreign actors are getting involved in proxy fights of world powers.
South Sudan
Independent since 2011 and also knee-deep in a civil war for the past few years, South Sudan is also experiencing considerable difficulties as it tries to stabilize the nation. The U.S. has contributed around $14 billion since 2005 to help the peace process — but because of South Sudan’s own abuses and corruption — growth and progress has completely stalled.
Read more: The world’s 20 most corrupt countries
Source: Yahoo Finance
