Full List of 10 Most Corrupt Countries in the World
- South Sudan and Somalia top the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index as the most corrupt countries globally
- Five African nations rank among the 10 most corrupt countries, according to Transparency International's report
- Seychelles has been ranked the least corrupt African nation, followed by Cape Verde, Botswana, and Rwanda
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues
South Sudan and Somalia are the most corrupt countries globally, according to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
Libya, Eritrea, and Sudan are other African countries in the top ten most corrupt countries in the world.
Source: Twitter
African nations dominated the top ten most corrupt countries in the world with five representatives.
This is according to the report released by Transparency International on Tuesday, February 9, 2026, after assessing 182 countries worldwide
According to the 2025 CPI, the list of the top 10 corruption-free nations is dominated largely by European countries.
Transparency International warned that corruption remains a major global threat, driven by weak political will, declining democratic institutions, and poor governance.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and President Salva Kiir have a lot of work to do to get their countries off the list of top ten most corrupt nations globally.
Legit.ng reports that Nigeria ranked 142nd in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, remaining below the global average.
The country scored 26 out of 100, sharing its position with Cameroon and Guinea.
10 Most Corrupt Countries in the world
- North Korea
- Syria
- Nicaragua
- Sudan
- Eritrea
- Libya
- Yemen
- Venezuela
- Somalia
- South Sudan
On the positive side, Seychelles leads Africa as the least corrupt, followed by Cape Verde, Botswana, and Rwanda.
Source: Twitter
Reactions to list of 10 most corrupt countries
Legit.ng compiled some reactions below:
Alfred Levison Kampira
The Devil is not ranked among sinners: A case of Malawi. Lol.
Joseph Chikalipo Jnr
Clearly, ya'll have never heard about Malawi.
Verla Crypto-trader
I think this report was made at Uganda's state house, and the reporter feared mentioning Uganda.
Magezi K Roggers
Was this survey sponsored by the Ugandan government or???
Sunday Asobasi
How Uganda missed among the top three left me wondering; someone must have bribed TI.
Brinkley J Osida Otieno
How did they forget Kenya?
Nhana Akua Zuria
Nigeria proudly left the chat
Nigeria ranked 36th most corrupt country globally
Recall that Nigeria emerged as the 36th most corrupt country in the world, alongside Uganda, Mexico, Madagascar, Iraq, and Cameroon.
This was according to Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index released on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
From the report, Denmark was the least corrupt country in the world, followed by Finland and Singapore, while South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela ranked as the most corrupt nations.
Corruption: Countries without EFCC, ICPC doing better
Legit.ng also reported that Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, a Catholic cleric and former secretary general of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, faulted Nigeria’s political leadership recruitment system.
The cleric argued that, despite the existence of multiple anti-corruption agencies, Nigeria lags behind countries without such institutions.
Ehusani and other speakers at an Abuja event called for adaptive leadership and stressed that corruption weakens institutions, deepens poverty, and erodes public trust.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
