The 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has rated Somalia as the world's most corrupt country and New Zealand the least. The CPI is a project of Transparency International, a global non-profit, that analyzes business and expert surveys to measure "the perceived level of public-sector corruption in 180 countries and territories around the world."
According to the CPI, the top ten most corrupt (starting with the worst): Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar/Burma, Sudan, Iraq, Chad, Uzbekistan, Turmenistan, Iran, and Haiti. Prolonged conflict and social unrest is the highest common denominator among these countries. Corruption has run amuck in the absence of legitimate governing bodies and political stability.
Somalia and Sudan have each been embroiled in civil war for decades leading to genocide in the case of Sudan and earning the title of failed state for Somalia. Myanmar has been in a perpetual state of turmoil since the 1962 military coup. Rounding out the top five are Afghanistan and Iraq, two countries awash with U.S. military and money. Afghanistan has actually become more corrupt in the last year, going from fifth place to second, despite continued international pressure on President Karzai to crack down on corruption.
The least corrupt countries tend to be small and homogeneous with long-standing political structures. The most transparent/least corrupt countries (starting with the best): New Zealand, Denmark, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and Iceland. No real surprises here. The United States ranks number nineteen, right after the United Kingdom. The primary concern cited in the U.S. surveys was, "lack of government oversight in relation to the financial sector." The CPI also stated that the "U.S. legislature is perceived to be the institution most affected by corruption."
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