Business

The world’s most and least corrupt countries – and where South Africa fits in

Staff Writer

 ·25 Jan 2017

Transparency International has on Wednesday released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index, listing the least and most corrupt countries in the world.

Over two-thirds of the 176 countries and territories in this year’s index fall below the midpoint of the scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The global average score is a 43, indicating endemic corruption in the public sector.

No country received a “perfect” score in 2016 with Denmark and New Zealand tied as the two least corrupt countries in the world, while Somalia and South Sudan made up the two most corrupt countries.

South Africa ranked 64 out of the 176 countries with a corruption rating of 45/100 – an increase over 2015’s 44/100. This indicates a slightly decreased level of corruption in the country after posting a record low of 42/100 in 2012.

However, the survey did note that South Africa had worryingly stagnated over the past couple of years and, despite hosting a successful election in 2016, showed few signs of improving.

It also expressly mentioned South Africa’s political troubles, noting that the score was largely affected by President Zuma’s appearance in court and the media for corruption scandals.

This included his own appeal against findings in a report by the Public Prosecutor Thuli Madonsela, regarding undue public spending in his private homestead in Nkandla.

Lower-ranked countries are plagued by untrustworthy and badly functioning public institutions like the police and judiciary, the report said.

Even where anti-corruption laws are on the books, in practice they’re often skirted or ignored. People frequently face situations of bribery and extortion, rely on basic services that have been undermined by the misappropriation of funds, and confront official indifference when seeking redress from authorities that are on the take.

The higher-ranked countries tend to have higher degrees of press freedom, access to information about public expenditure, stronger standards of integrity for public officials, and independent judicial systems.

Least corrupt countries