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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Residents ride on a pick-up truck that supplies milk and other items in Somalia's capital Mogadishu.

Public outcry at corruption, impunity and economic instability sent shockwaves around the world in 2011.

Protests in many countries quickly spread to unite people from all parts of society. Their backgrounds may be diverse, but their message is the same: more transparency and accountability is needed from our leaders.

Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries and territories according to their perceived levels of public sector corruption.

The data sources used to compile the index include questions relating to the abuse of public power and focus on: bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, embezzlement of public funds, and on questions that probe the strength and effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts in the public sector.

As such, it covers both the administrative and political aspects of corruption. In producing the index, the scores of countries/territories for the specific corruption-related questions in the data sources are combined to calculate a single score for each country.

It is an aggregate indicator that combines different sources of information about corruption, making it possible to compare countries.

Let us take a look at 30 most corrupt countries, based on Transparency International's study.

Somalia

Score: 1

Region rank: 48

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 4

Confidence range: 0.6-1.4

World ranking: 182

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A woman pulls her child in a cart at the North Korean border city of Kaesong.

North Korea

Score: 1

Region rank: 35

Region: Asia-Pacific

Sources: 3

Confidence range: 0.7-1.3

World ranking: 182

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
The giant standing Buddha in Monywa, about 136 km northwest of Mandalay.

Myanmar

Score: 1.5

Region rank: 33

Region: Asia-Pacific

Sources: 4

Confidence range: 1-1.9

World ranking: 180

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Children ride on a Ferris wheel in Kabul.

Afghanistan

Score: 1.5

Region rank: 33

Region: Asia-Pacific

Sources: 4

Confidence range: 1.4-1.7

World ranking: 180

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
People walk across a snow covered Khast Imam square in Tashkent.

Uzbekistan

Score: 1.6

Region rank: 19

Region: Eastern-Europe and Central Europe

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 1.5-1.8

World ranking: 177

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A wedding convoy passes Turkmen flag near mausoleum of the country's former leader Niyazov near Ashgabat.

Turkmenistan

Score: 1.6

Region rank: 19

Region: Eastern Europe and Central Europe

Sources: 3

Confidence range: 1.4-1.8

World ranking: 177

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A camel sits on a truck in Suakin, Sudan.

Sudan

Score: 1.6

Region rank: 47

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 1.4-1.7

World ranking: 177

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A view of the tourist village of Habaniya, near Falluja, Iraq.

Iraq

Score: 1.8

Region rank: 18

Region: Middle East and North Africa

Sources: 4

Confidence range: 1.7-1.9

World ranking: 175

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Haitian women walk down a street in Port-au-Prince.

Haiti

Score: 1.8

Region rank: 32

Region: Americas

Sources: 5

Confidence range: 1.6-2

World ranking: 175

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
People have a drink at 360, a three-tiered rooftop bar, in Caracas.

Venezuela

Score: 1.9

Region rank: 31

Region: Americas

Sources: 9

Confidence range: 1.7-2.1

World ranking: 172

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A view of capital Malabo.

Equatorial Guinea

Score: 1.9

Region rank: 45

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 3

Confidence range: 1.8-2

World ranking: 172

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Maasai warriors perform a traditional dance.

Burundi

Score: 1.9

Region rank: 45

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 1.7-2.2

World ranking: 172

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A view of Leptis Magna, a Unesco World Heritage site.

Libya

Score: 2

Region rank: 17

Region: Middle East and North Africa

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 1.8-2.2

World ranking: 168

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A baby mountain gorilla and its mother feed on the slopes of Mount Mikeno in the Virunga National Park.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Score: 2

Region rank: 42

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 5

Confidence range: 1.9-2.2

World ranking: 168

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A view of Bredjing refugee camp in Chad.

Chad

Score: 2

Region rank: 42

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 2-2.1

World ranking: 168

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Office blocks under construction stand behind the Angolan central bank building in capital Luanda.

Angola

Score: 2

Region rank: 42

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 8

Confidence range: 1.8-2.2

World ranking: 168

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A view of historical city of Shibam in Yemen.

Yemen

Score: 2.1

Region rank: 16

Region: Middle East and North Africa

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 1.9-2.3

World ranking: 164

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Women spin yarn at a presentation of traditional handicraft in Osh.

Kyrgyzstan

Score: 2.1

Region rank: 18

Region: Eastern Europe and Central Europe

Sources: 8

Confidence range: 2-2.3

World ranking: 164

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A view of Conakry.

Guinea

Score: 2.1

Region rank: 41

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 1.9-2.3

World ranking: 164

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A view of Phnom Penh.

Cambodia

Score: 2.1

Region rank: 32

Region: Asia-Pacific

Sources: 10

Confidence range: 1.9-2.4

World ranking: 164

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A tourist sips her drink while watching elephants graze at an exclusive hotel in Livingstone.

Zimbabwe

Score: 2.2

Region rank: 35

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 8

Confidence range: 1.6-2.9

World ranking: 154

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Lapacho trees, the Paraguayan national tree, blossom in Asuncion.

Paraguay

Score: 2.2

Region rank: 30

Region: Americas

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 2-2.5

World ranking: 154

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea

Score: 2.2

Region rank: 29

Region: Asia-Pacific

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 1.9.2.4

World ranking: 154

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Kathmandu, Nepal.

Nepal

Score: 2.2

Region rank: 29

Region: Asia-Pacific

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 2.1.2.4

World ranking: 154

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Laos.

Laos

Score: 2.2

Region rank: 29

Region: Asia-Pacific

Sources: 4

Confidence range: 2.2.5

World ranking: 154

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenya

Score: 2.2

Region rank: 35

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 9

Confidence range: 2.2.4

World ranking: 154

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Guinea-Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau

Score: 2.2

Region rank: 35

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 4

Confidence range: 2.2.4

World ranking: 154

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
Girls work on cocoa beans in Sankadiokrou.

Ivory Coast

Score: 2.2

Region rank: 35

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 8

Confidence range: 2.2.5

World ranking: 154

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
A fisherman casts his line in Lake Kivu, Goma.

Congo Republic

Score: 2.2

Region rank: 35

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 6

Confidence range: 2.2.3

World ranking: 154

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World's 30 most corrupt countries

Last updated on: December 5, 2011 18:27 IST
The Presidential Palace in capital Bangui.

Central African Republic

Score: 2.2

Region rank: 35

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sources: 4

Confidence range: 2.1-2.3

World ranking: 154