© Getty Images

30. Central African Republic (CPI Score: 24) -

With a CPI score of 24, the Central African Republic faces enormous challenges. Corruption exacerbates the plight of one of the world's poorest populations and hinders efforts to promote stability and justice.

© Getty Images

29. Iran (CPI Score: 24) -

Iran ranks poorly on the Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating a high level of perceived corruption with a score of 24. The Iranian government uses corruption to maintain control, with the government, military, and religious leaders working together to create opportunities for favoritism and financial benefits for those loyal to the leaders. This system is deeply ingrained in Iran’s politics, making it hard to weed out.

© Getty Images

28. Lebanon (CPI Score: 24) -

Lebanon's CPI score of 24 reflects a crisis where beauty and banking collide with corruption, leading to economic instability and social unrest, deeply impacting the Lebanese people's livelihoods and future.

© Getty Images

27. Zimbabwe (CPI Score: 24) -

Zimbabwe's story is one of vast potential, shadowed by corruption, with a CPI score of 24. Land confiscations and economic challenges paint a complex picture of resilience and struggle for its citizens.

© Getty Images

26. Azerbaijan (CPI Score: 23) -

Azerbaijan, straddling Europe and Asia, faces corruption with a CPI score of 23. Allegations of wealth accumulation by ruling families contrast with the aspirations of its people for fair governance.

© Getty Images

25. Guatemala (CPI Score: 23) -

Guatemala, known for its vibrant culture and natural beauty, grapples with a CPI score of 23. Corruption here stifles progress, affecting governance and eroding trust within the largest economy in Central America.

© Getty Images

24. Honduras (CPI Score: 23) -

Honduras, with its CPI score of 23, illustrates the impact of corruption on a nation's fabric—eroding trust in institutions and dampening economic prospects in this Central American country.

© Getty Images

23. Iraq (CPI Score: 23) -

Iraq's rich cultural heritage and oil reserves are marred by a CPI score of 23, where corruption impedes reconstruction efforts and governance, deeply affecting its path to stability and prosperity.

© Getty Images

22. Cambodia (CPI Score: 22) -

Cambodia's bustling streets and rich history contrast sharply with its CPI score of 22, signaling deep-rooted corruption that affects social and economic development, challenging the resilience of its people.

© Getty Images

21. Congo (CPI Score: 22) -

The Republic of Congo, with a CPI score of 22, shows a nation under the tight grip of a long-standing regime. Allegations of amassed wealth contrast starkly with the daily realities of its people.

© Getty Images

20. Guinea-Bissau (CPI Score: 22) -

Guinea-Bissau's score reflects a country battling with corruption at all levels. With a GDP per capita that's among the world's lowest, the stakes are high in the fight against corruption.

© Getty Images

19. Eritrea (CPI Score: 21) -

In Eritrea, a score of 21 signals deep-rooted issues. Despite its small size, the impact of corruption is massive, affecting everything from human rights to freedom of expression.

© Getty Images

18. Burundi (CPI Score: 20) -

Burundi faces significant hurdles with a CPI score of 20. The country's economic struggles are compounded by corruption, making it hard for businesses to thrive and for society to progress.

© Getty Images

17. Chad (CPI Score: 20) -

Chad's challenges are mirrored in its CPI score. Amidst civil unrest and governance issues, corruption remains a critical barrier to development and peace.

© Getty Images

16. Comoros (CPI Score: 20) -

Comoros, with its picturesque landscapes, struggles with a corruption score of 20. The nation's unique scandals, including passport sales, underscore the creative lengths the corrupt will go to. 

© Getty Images

15. Democratic Republic of Congo (CPI Score: 20) -

Rich in minerals but plagued by corruption, the DRC's CPI score of 20 highlights the paradox of immense wealth beneath the ground and immense struggles above it.

© Getty Images

14. Myanmar (CPI Score: 20) -

Myanmar's breathtaking landscapes are contrasted by a CPI score of 20. The country's struggle with corruption stifles democracy and economic development, impacting its diverse population's hope for a better future.

© Getty Images

13. Sudan (CPI Score: 20) -

Sudan's CPI score of 20 reveals a landscape where bribes and financial misrepresentations hinder progress. The nation's quest for stability is often thwarted by these challenges.

© Getty Images

12. Tajikistan (CPI Score: 20) -

Tajikistan's majestic landscapes are overshadowed by a CPI score of 20, indicating widespread corruption that hampers economic growth and governance, affecting its citizens' prospects and well-being.

© Getty Images

11. Libya (CPI Score: 18) -

Libya's ongoing political instability and a CPI score of 18 highlight the complex relationship between governance, corruption, and societal wellbeing in a country rich in natural resources.

© Getty Images

10. Turkmenistan (CPI Score: 18) -

Turkmenistan's story of corruption, reflected in its score, involves not just the public sector but seeps into everyday life, affecting how people interact with their government and each other.

© Getty Images

9. Equatorial Guinea (CPI Score: 17) -

Despite its wealth from oil reserves, Equatorial Guinea grapples with a CPI score of 17. The nation's riches are drained by corruption, affecting its economic stability and growth prospects.

© Getty Images

8. Haiti (CPI Score: 17) -

Haiti, with a CPI score of 17, tells a tale of resilience amidst adversity. Corruption here involves not just financial misdealings but also power plays that hinder the nation's recovery and development.

© Getty Images

7. Nicaragua (CPI Score: 17) -

In Nicaragua, a CPI score of 17 paints a picture of widespread corruption, reaching from the streets up to the presidential palace, affecting the country's governance and trust.

© Getty Images

6. North Korea (CPI Score: 17) -

North Korea's opaque regime is reflected in its CPI score of 17. The country's isolation exacerbates the challenges of corruption, affecting how it interacts with the rest of the world.

© Getty Images

5. Yemen (CPI Score: 16) -

Yemen's CPI score of 16 sheds light on the dire consequences of corruption, particularly in a nation already torn by civil war and humanitarian crises, highlighting the urgent need for governance reforms.

© Getty Images

4. Venezuela (CPI Score: 13) -

Venezuela's struggles are magnified by its CPI score of 13. Despite having the world's largest oil reserves, corruption has led to economic chaos, affecting every aspect of Venezuelan life.

© Getty Images

3. South Sudan (CPI Score: 13) -

As one of the world's newest countries, South Sudan's CPI score of 13 underscores the pervasive challenge of building a new nation's institutions in the shadow of corruption.

© Getty Images

2. Syria (CPI Score: 13) -

Syria's ongoing conflict and a CPI score of 13 illustrate the devastating impact of corruption on a country's social fabric, exacerbating the hardships faced by its people. This 2025 study examines Syria before the fall of Bashar al-Assad, who had been in power for 24 years.

© Getty Images

1. Somalia (CPI Score: 11) -

Topping the list with a CPI score of 11, Somalia's extensive corruption challenges highlight the critical need for systemic change to foster stability and prosperity.

Sources: (Yahoo Finance) (Insider Monkey) (Worldostats)

See also:  America's Gilded Age: A time of growth and corruption

© Getty Images