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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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