Corrupt Countries

Africa

Asia

Caribbean

Europe

Middle East

North America

Oceania

South America

The world's most corrupt countries have been defined as corrupt by The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (2009). This index measures corruption as the abuse of public political office for private gain. This definition includes monetary interests, bribery and includes individuals who finance those in power to have their own political agenda achieved. Corruption harms everyone whose livelihood depends on the integrity of those in power and it normally affects the poor. The poor are vulnerable and have financial aid, that would otherwise benefit them, snatched away by greedy officials.

It is interesting to note that not every country on this list is a dictatorship, several are democracies. However, the elections within these democracies are often tainted with dishonesty, fraud and ballot box miscounts.

Image by Paul Morse

President Hamid Karzai's own brother is well known to be a drug trafficker, extortionist and mob leader with dealings in the opium trade. Corrupt officials use billions of dollars in U.S aid shipments to fuel their personal interests as well as to fund the Taliban's fighting force. The countries capital, Kabul is where most briberies and illicit activities occur. Low-level officials and the unelected provincial governors are able to filter aid money into their own pockets without receiving opposition from the police or army.

Somalia has been engulfed with civil war since 1991 and did
not have a set government until 2000. President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed leads a fragile and unpopular government that is plagued with corruption. Islamic militants and pirates control almost all of the country including most of the capital, Mogadishu. The government only retains control of just a few districts and the army is unable to protect citizens. The Mayor of Mogadishu is perhaps the only non-corrupt official in the city as he works tirelessly to improve conditions for citizens.

Image by Sven-steffen arndt

The military regime is headed by President Omar Al-Bashi who has been indicted to the International Criminal Court for genocide and war crimes. His country is extremely rich in resources including uranium and oil, yet a fraction of the profits go to help the suffering region of Darfur. The government is unwilling and incapable of protecting it's own citizens and instead seeks to fulfil it's own profit interests. As with Burma, there is no financial transparency so hundreds of millions of dollars disappear each year.

The country has been governed by a military junta since 1962 and is currently headed by Senior General Than Shwe who took over in 1992. The government holds a tight grip on the country, profiting from Myanmar's rich natural resources and denying the people good infrastructure, housing and healthcare. The regime is extremely oppressive and does not allow freedom of speech or transparency in it's financial dealings. Thus, improper monetary exchanges and bribery are commonplace.

(CC) Image by Mark Knobil

The hierarchy of Chad's government are known for embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. President Idriss Deby is known to have used oil revenue to fund his own expensive lifestyle when the oil funds were intended to help improve the countries infrastructure, healthcare and schools. Both finance and education ministers have been accused by a Chadian court of extracting $4.3 million from a school book project.

The Shiite leaders of Iraq are well known for their corrupt dealings, accepting of bribes and their private use of oil profits. Billions of dollars have gone missing since the invasion led by coalition forces. A sizeable portion of this money has been taken by foreign military contractors. $177 million dollars was overcharged by American company Halliburton, once headed by Dick Cheney. The oil industry produces tens of billions of dollars each year, yet Iraqi citizens hardly receive any benefits from the lucrative industry.

(CC) Image by Kimon Berlin

A significant proportion of the profit from Uzbekistans exportation industry goes to the countries ruling elite. The countries oppressive President Islam Karimov controls the state and justice system, making freedom of speech very limited. Elections appear fraudulent as indicated in the 2007 election where the margin was 88% in favour of the President. Anyone who speaks of corruption or does not approve of the government is imprisoned without trial.

The government of Turkmenistan, headed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, controls most public sectors and most of the economy. The country is a resource-rich nation and has huge natural gas reserves which generate large profits. As the industry is government controlled, there is much opportunity for officials to make a profit. Unemployment is high in the country and even low-level government or civil service workers take bribes as a means of making a living.

(CC) Image by Robert Miller

(CC) Image by shahram sharif

After the 2010 earthquake, it became clear that the government does not provide adequately for it's people and instead prefers to protect the wealth of it's ruling aristocrats. Billions of dollars have been sent to Haiti in aid since the disaster and some of this money has mysteriously disappeared. One mayor was accused by hundreds of protestors of being corrupt and hoarding food aid. Haiti's citizens also blame poor distribution of aid on corrupt officials who use foreign aid money and food to deepen their own pockets.

The oil-rich nation is controlled by an autocratic ruling elite that fund and support President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in order to stay in power and to fulfil their own profit interests. The 2009 election was widely believed to have been rigged and funded by money from the ruling elite. Any loan that is taken out from a bank has to be paid back, with interest going in to the pockets of bank officials. In order to be guaranteed success with a job position or a degree, 'success fees' or bribes can be paid to secure the deal.