10 most corrupt countries in the world

Corruption and economic turmoil often go hand in hand. In Western countries, such as the United States, and in many European countries, we often see how corruption is exposed as a result of the efforts of whistleblowers or journalistic investigations. But in many other parts of the world, corruption plays an important role in entrenching staggering poverty and destroying economic systems.

Often, specific power structures and governance architectures offer easier ways for corrupt politicians, businessmen, or the military 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 governed by a multitude of independent tribal chiefs and often lack a centralized power structure with any significant influence.

Transparency International developed a complete list of the most corrupt countries of the world in the past 2013, and the countries that lead the list probably won't come as much of a surprise to many. The study rates countries on a scale from 0 to 100, where zero is the most corrupt, and 100 is the least corrupt.

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 great effect by itself. If the research shows anything, it happens that the world as a whole has a huge problem from the point of view of corrupt officials.

Looking at the Corruption Perceptions Index, along with the existing power structures and economic systems in each country, the picture actually becomes a little clearer. That's why the authors went a little deeper, examining the ratings presented on the following pages.

Just in case, they included the United States in the list to give perspective on where America ranks internationally in terms of corruption and economic struggle. According to calculations and scales Transparency International, the USA has established itself quite positively, although it is well known that there are definitely problems with how everything works in Washington.

Other countries that you might expect to see, such as Russia, Mexico or Venezuela, have their own places full list of 177 countries can be considered directly at the source Transparency International.

Here are the most corrupt countries in the world, according to estimates Transparency International, with additional understanding of the problems and factors that haunt each of them.

1. Somalia

• Corruption rating: 8
• Power structure: Almost no; "In the process of building a federal parliamentary republic" - data from the CIA

Somalia may be the most unstable country on the planet. The country became infamous in the US as responsible for the incident Blackhawk Down, as well as because of pirates, who are known to seize passing ships in the Gulf of Aden and the 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 greater hostility and division.

The environment in Somalia has led to a difficult life for many citizens of the country. On the economic front, many people make a living by raising livestock or farming, and their second occupation is fishing. Of course, remaining in such disarray at the top of the power structure, any long-term planning for social programs and infrastructure is 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 struggle the country is experiencing.

Apart from these things, there is a lack of information about the internal workings of the Somali government and its economic system. This in itself is quite indicative, since corrupt officials may not want an outsider's view of the true picture of what is happening within the country's borders.

2 North Korea

• Corruption rating: 8
• Power structure: Dictatorship

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

Known for having very little electricity and sending its citizens to prisoner of war camps, North Korea's government and economy are effectively shrouded in secrecy. While it does receive aid from countries such as China, North Korea has obviously had problems producing enough fuel and food to properly care for its citizens. Military spending far outweighs spending on social programs and aid, mainly to impose a ban on manifestations for the rest of the world and control citizens.

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

3. Afghanistan

• Corruption rating: 8
• Power structure: Islamic republic

Afghanistan has an incredibly difficult history to try to match. The region has been inhabited for a very long time — and the geographical location has also placed it in the middle of many conflicts for more than a hundred, if not thousands of years. There is a reason why the country is stuck with the nickname 'graveyard of empires', as it is incredibly difficult not only to conquer it, but also to keep it under control.

The country is weakly held by a central government that mostly lacks power and has been deceived by countless local tribal chiefs and warlords, as we have seen directly with the Taliban and al-Qaeda. The 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 arrested for taking a large amount of money from the American military, among other things. Afghanistan is also home to the world's largest producer of heroin, which has brought a lot of wealth to the lucky few.

The country's economy has remained in a state of continuous change for some time, although the fall of the Taliban regime has helped because it now has a flow of international aid. But she still faces serious problems in the future.

As the CIA put it, "Crime, unreliability, weak governance, lack of infrastructure and the difficulty of the Afghan government in extending the rule of law to all parts of the country pose problems for future economic growth."

4. Sudan

• Corruption rating: 11
• Power structure: federal republic

The country that was completely covered by the power of war for many years is the African country of Sudan. Long-standing conflicts between competing factions and ethnic groups have destabilized the country's ability to function economically, and the result has been devastating for many of the country's citizens. South Sudan also recently broke away from the rest of the country, taking with it extensive oil reserves. CNN reports, that the GDP of Sudan, as expected, will decrease by a considerable amount due to the secession of South Sudan.

The country's government is designated as a federal republic governed by the National Congress Party, according to the CIA. PNK came to power after the coup d'état in 1989 and was unable to successfully restore national problems. As a result of prolonged instability, Sudan's GDP has fallen since its peak in 2006, most of which is related to the situation in South Sudan.

Forty-six and a half percent of Sudanese citizens live below the poverty line according to the calculations of the World Bank. National GDP reaches $66.55 billion. Both of these statistics would probably see an improvement if it weren't for some of the draconian and growth-inhibiting policies of the PNK. In addition, if Sudan can find a way to rid itself of some corrupt officials, many armed conflicts could see a resolution very quickly.

5. South Sudan

• Corruption rating: 14
• Power structure: republic

One of the youngest countries in the world, South Sudan officially declared independence in 2011, after long-standing 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 2.5 million people, or about reports 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 old government structures that many others have. This has led to ripe opportunities for corrupt politicians to intervene, and as a result, the country has remained largely underdeveloped, and its citizens participate in a subsistence-based economic system. Another problem is the lack of a sense of statehood among the 200 or so ethnic groups that inhabit the country.

According to the World Bank, the vast majority of South Sudan's GDP — approximately 80 percent — derives from oil exports. This was the main problem, because international oil companies were able to use weak national government structures and regulatory policies in their interests, bringing huge profits at the expense of citizens. In fact, 85 percent of the country's labor resources are engaged in free labor. More than half live also below the poverty line.

6. Libya

• Corruption rating: 15
• Power structure: Transitional

Few nations have experienced so many shocks in the past few years as Libya. The country's government saw its collapse during a mass uprising and protest that eventually led to a parade of protesters marching the body of former president Muammar Gaddafi through 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 is still in turmoil. The formal government has not taken root either, the struggle between the insurgents and those loyal to the old administration is still going on. Due to the high level of uncertainty, the country's GDP decreased by 9,4 percent during 2013, according to the World Bank. The power vacuum left open an excellent opportunity for arms dealers and corrupt military bigwigs to take responsibility and profit by turning citizens against each other.

Libya is currently operating 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 provides 95 percent of export earnings and 80 percent of national GDP, according to the CIA. Until a new, permanent government can be established, Libya will most likely remain a hotbed of political and economic instability.

7. Iraq

• Corruption rating: 16
• Power structure: Federal parliamentary constitutional republic (allegedly)

Many people may be surprised that Iraq is not higher in the list of the most corrupt countries in the world, but it is certainly there. It is no secret that the current state of affairs in Iraq is in complete disarray. After the second American invasion in 15 years, the withdrawal of American forces left Iraq with a real power vacuum, with several different sects fighting for power over the war-torn country. The struggle is mainly concentrated between the Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis, but the arrival of ISIS from Syria has added additional problems.

The CIA describes 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 taken root in the country, since Iraq's vast wealth and natural resources have made it a target for all kinds of industry and military speculators.

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 restore infrastructure and tap the country's oil reserves. The future of Iraq is probably as doubtful as any country in the world. It is very possible that the country will break up and turn into three different states, as it was before the Europeans entered the fight at the beginning of the 20th century. As for the present, incredible instability — along with the arrival of ISIS in the north — will keep the country in a state of constant change.

8. Uzbekistan

• Corruption rating: 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, information from the World Bank indicates, that the economy of Uzbekistan has remained more or less the same due to the financial crisis that has harmed the 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 the executive branch, making it open to corruption. Karimov has been president since Uzbekistan became a de facto country after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, winning three consecutive terms between five and seven years. Like many other Middle Eastern authority figures, he obviously did not get tired of running the country.

Most of the Uzbek economy relies on agriculture for its sustenance, as the entire country is landlocked and has a very dry climate. Many transnational corporations experienced clashes with the country's government, accused of following local laws and customs. This did not prevent the administration from trying to attract more business, however, through tax incentives and sometimes even bribery.

9. Turkmenistan

• Corruption rating: 17
• Power structure: Presidential Democracy/Strong hand supporter

Turkmenistan is in a dangerous neighborhood, to say the least. Bordering Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in the north, the country is in the actual hotbed of corrupt states. With the constant turmoil throughout the Middle East, it was very easy for the country to get involved in corrupt affairs, especially those concentrated at the top of the authoritarian presidential figure, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

File The CIA says, that Turkmenistan likes to describe itself as a secular democracy and a 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 struggle for power, it left the people with a very high level of corruption and vulnerability to stupidity.

Like many other countries in the region, the economy of Turkmenistan is mainly based on agriculture and energy. The country is lucky to have extensive reserves of crude oil and natural gas, in addition to the economy, although they are managed by the government. Improper use of state revenues scared away many investors and led to high levels of corruption.

10. Syria

• Corruption rating: 17
• Power structure: Authoritarian republic

One of the oldest countries in the world - unfortunately, one of the most corrupt. At the moment, corruption has also become the most important problem, since the civil war has engulfed the country and left thousands dead in the past few years. The uprising in Syria originally began as part of the 'Arab Spring', which saw several dictators fall through the cracks, but Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was able to hold on to power through what many believe are fixed elections.

The situation in Syria quickly turned into one of the worst humanitarian situations the world has seen in recent memory. The struggle also gave birth to the ISIS terrorist group, which went to Iraq to conquer more territory. Syria's frightening display of government-sponsored violence and corruption has left many around the world filled with reverent fear and effectively destroyed national economic systems.

Because of the civil war and the terrible conditions under the Assad administration, the outlook in Syria is not good at all. The economy is expected to continue to collapse, and it is unlikely that the fighting and bloodshed will stop in the near future. Millions of people have left the country and millions more are starving 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.

Incentive award: United States

• Corruption rating: 73
• power structure: democratic republic

There should be an incentive award for the United States, whose many human figures should be the most corrupt nation on Earth. The fact is that in the USA there is really big corruption in many forms, such as lobbying, bribery, pre-election machinations and bought elections. But according to the corruption index, the USA pales in comparison with countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

The economic system of the United States, although often portrayed as a 'free market', is often not quite so. A cursory look at telecommunications or energy shows that many monopolistic forces – and big money involved – could often rewrite laws to maintain power and influence. The pressure of big business and labor groups is the main 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 certainly many issues that the United States needs to address — from the financial system to the elections — but with the status quo firmly in place, there aren't many signs that citizens should expect big-time change anytime soon.

Source: wallstcheatsheet.com