8. Romania
> Pct. approving of government: 18% (tied-fifth highest)
> Pct. believe gov’t corruption widespread: 77% (46th highest)
> Unemployment rate (2013): 7.3% (53rd highest)

Romania is yet another country to institute austerity measures after a bailout led by the EU, IMF, and World Bank in 2009. Romania’s government fell in 2012 in a backlash against the unpopular austerity measures. Against such a backdrop, the current Romanian government’s 18% approval rating looks somewhat disconcerting. Despite mistrusting their government, nearly 50% of Romanians had a positive view of EU leadership last year, more than residents in larger European countries.. Additionally, 77% of respondents said they believed government corruption was widespread. While this was a high percentage, it was far lower than in other nations with low governmental approval ratings.

ALSO READ: The 10 States With the Worst Quality of Life

7. Peru
> Pct. approving of government: 18% (tied-fifth highest)
> Pct. believe gov’t corruption widespread: 86% (tied-17th highest)
> Unemployment rate (2013): 7.5% (50th highest)

The Peruvian government has made exceptional efforts in recent years to meet its peoples’ needs. For example, the government created in 2011 a ministry devoted to Development and Social Inclusion to combat poverty. The program has had some effect, but last year, more than 40% of Peruvians still said there were times in the last 12 months when they could not afford enough food, one of the higher rates globally. Like in other countries with the lowest government approval, a majority of Peruvians — 86% — believed corruption was widespread in their government. Perhaps as a result, less than one in five residents approved of their government.

6. Pakistan
> Pct. approving of government: 18% (tied-fifth highest)
> Pct. believe gov’t corruption widespread: 81% (34th highest)
> Unemployment rate (2013): 6.2% (68th highest)

Pakistan has struggled with public sector corruption, intermittent military rule, and weak governmental authority in tribal regions that border Afghanistan. All these factors may help explain why just 18% of Pakistanis approved of their government last year. However, perhaps the most noticeable problem with the nation’s government was that many residents did not even bother to pay their taxes. According to Reuters, just one in roughly 200 people filed an income tax return. Pakistans’ The Times on Sunday also noted that just 840,000 people filed returns with the country’s Federal Board of Revenue last year and just 3.2 million people had a national tax number. By comparison, Pakistan has a population of over 180 million.

ALSO READ: America’s Poorest Cities

5. Moldova
> Pct. approving of government: 18% (tied-fifth highest)
> Pct. believe gov’t corruption widespread: 86% (tied-17th highest)
> Unemployment rate (2013): 5.1% (81st highest)

Like many other former Soviet republics, Moldova has struggled with civil unrest and government corruption for decades. In 2013, 86% of country residents told Gallup they believed corruption was widespread in their government, one of the highest rates in the world. The job market, however, seems to be in relatively good shape. The unemployment rate was just 5.1% in 2013, better than in many European nations. Despite the relative availability of jobs, the country is still quite poor. And 36% of survey respondents said they did not have enough money to buy food, among the higher proportions in the world.