Most Corrupt Countries in the World

Libya has struggled to regain civil peace since the fall of strongman Muammar Gaddafi. Warring militias “are the greatest threat for Libya” according to the head of the country’s national oil company, who added that this is true for the whole society, not just the oil industry.

War-torn Afghanistan improved its standing somewhat in the rankings this year but nearly half the country remains outside of government control. Partly that’s due to the success that extremist groups like the Taliban enjoy in recruiting new members and partly it’s because of highly visible government corruption and nepotism.

One of Africa’s smallest countries, Equatorial Guinea’s fortunes have fallen as revenue from its oil exports has declined. The country’s human trafficking problems are also getting worse, not better.

Two-thirds of the country’s population remain below the poverty line and the economy is based on cashews (80% of export revenue) and fishing. Its location has made Guinea-Bissau a haven for smuggling drugs into Europe. The country lacks even minimal standards for eliminating human trafficking, nor is the government trying to develop any.

Ruled for nearly 30 years by indicted war criminal Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s ongoing dispute with South Sudan has resulted in the displacement of more than 2 million people. The prime minister recently said that the country is making progress in holding accountable those responsible for corruption.