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The world is a corrupt place, says new survey

More than one person in two thinks corruption has worsened in the last two years, according to the world’s largest public opinion survey on corruption from Transparency International

The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 is a survey of 1,14,000 people in 107 countries and it shows corruption is widespread. 27 per cent of respondents have paid a bribe when accessing public services and institutions in the last 12 months, revealing no improvement from previous surveys.

Top countries where respondents paid a bribe:

Sierra Leone 84%

Liberia 75%

Yemen 74%

Kenya 70%

However, nearly 9 out of 10 people surveyed said they would act against corruption and two-thirds of those who were asked to pay a bribe had refused, suggesting that government, civil society and the business sector need to do more to engage people in thwarting corruption.

The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 also found that in too many countries the institutions people rely on to fight corruption and other crime are themselves not trusted. 36 countries view police as the most corrupt, and in those countries an average of 53 per cent of people had been asked to pay a bribe to the police. 20 countries view the judiciary as the most corrupt, and in those countries an average of 30 per cent of the people who had come in contact with the judicial systems had been asked to pay a bribe.

The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 shows a crisis of trust in politics and real concern about the capacity of those institutions responsible for bringing criminals to justice. In 51 countries around the world political parties are seen as the most corrupt institution. 55 per cent of respondents think government is run by special interests.

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51 countries perceived political parties most affected by corruption

Around the world, people’s appraisal of their leaders’ efforts to stop corruption is worse than before the financial crisis began in 2008, when 31 per cent said their government’s efforts to fight corruption were effective. This year it fell to 22 per cent.

Global Survey

Parliament and legislature

7 countriesof 107 perceived Parliament and legislature to be among the institutions most affected by corruption

Political Parties

51 countries of the 107 perceived political parties to be among the institutions most affected by corruption

Military

0 countries of 107 perceived the military to be among the institutions most affected by corruption

NGOs

0 countries of 107 perceived NGOs to be among the institutions most affected by corruption.

Media

4 countries of 107 perceived the media to be among the institutions most affected by corruption.

Religious bodies

3 countries of 107 perceived religious bodies to be among the institutions most affected by corruption.

Business and private sector

3 countries of 107 perceived Business and private sector to be among the institutions most affected by corruption.

Education system

0 countries of 107 perceived Education system to be among the institutions most affected by corruption.

Judiciary

20 countries of 107 perceived the judiciary to be among the institutions most affected by corruption.

Medical and health services

6 countries of 107 perceived Medical and health services to be among the institutions most affected by corruption.

Police

36 countries of 107 perceived the police to be among the institutions most affected by corruption.

Public officials and civil servants

7 countries of 107 perceived public officials and civil servants to be among the institutions most affected by corruption.

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Globally, one in four people report paying a bribe in the past year

Percentage of respondents per country/territory who paid a bribe to one of eight services in the last 12 months

India

54 per cent of people in India paid a bribe in the last 12 months

Pakistan

34 per cent of people in Pakistan 

Bangladesh

39 per cent of people in Bangladesh 

Sierra Leone

84 per cent of people in Sierra Leone

Sri lanka

19 per cent of people in Sri Lanka 

USA

7 per cent of people in USA 

Canada

3 per cent of people in Canada 

Afghanistan

46 per cent of people in Afghanistan

Nepal

31 per cent of people in Nepal

Kenya

70 per cent of people in Kenya

Japan

1 per cent of people in Japan

Egypt

36 per cent of people in Egypt

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Making a difference in the fight against corruption

Percentage of respondents who believe ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against corruption

India

55 per cent of people in India believe they can make a difference in the fight against corruption

Pakistan

69 per cent of people in Pakistan 

Nepal

86 per cent of people in Nepal 

Bangladesh

92 per cent of people in Bangladesh 

Sri Lanka

72 per cent of people in Sri Lanka 

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India

How effective do you think your government's actions are in the fight against corruption?

40 per cent say it has increased a lot

6 per cent say it has decreased a little

 

To what extent do you think corruption is a problem in the public sector in India

47 per cent say it is a serious problem

 

To what extent is this government run by a few big entities acting in their own best interests?

20 per cent say not at all

12 per cent say to a large extent

2 per cent say entirely

 

How effective do you think your government's actions are in the fight against corruption?

26 per cent say they are very ineffective

23 per cent say they are neither effective or ineffective

7 per cent say it is effective

2 per cent say very effective

 

Percentage of respondents who felt these institutions were affected by corruption in India

86 per cent of people in India thought that political parties were affected by corruption

65 per cent of people in India thought that parliament / legislature was affected by corruption

20 per cent of people in India thought that military was affected by corruption

30 per cent of people in India thought that NGOs were affected by corruption

41 per cent of people in India thought that media was affected by corruption

44 per cent of people in India thought that religious bodies were affected by corruption

50 per cent of people in India thought that business was affected by corruption

61 per cent of people in India thought that education systems were affected by corruption

45 per cent of people in India thought that judiciary was affected by corruption

56 per cent of people in India thought that medical and health services were affected by corruption

75 per cent of people in India thought that police were affected by corruption

65 per cent of people in India thought that public officials and civil servants were affected by corruption

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Pakistan

Over the past two years how has the level of corruption in Pakistan changed?

54 per cent say it has increased a lot

5 per cent say it has decreased a lot

 

To what extent do you think corruption is a problem in the public sector in Pakistan?

75 percent say it is a serious problem

16 per cent say it is a problem

2 per cent say it is not really a problem

 

To what extent is this government run by a few big entities acting in their own best interests?

48 per cent say entirely

9 per cent say limited extent

6 per cent say not at all

 

How effective do you think your government's actions are in the fight against corruption?

52 per cent say they are very ineffective           

16 per cent say they are neither effective nor ineffective

 

Percentage of respondents who felt these institutions were affected by corruption in Pakistan

76 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that political parties were affected by corruption

63 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that parliament / legislature was affected by corruption

34 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that military was affected by corruption

39 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that NGOs were affected by corruption

36 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that media was affected by corruption

27 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that religious bodies were affected by corruption

43 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that business was affected by corruption

43 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that education systems were affected by corruption

45 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that judiciary was affected by corruption

46 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that medical and health services were affected by corruption

82 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that police were affected by corruption

81 per cent of people in Pakistan thought that public officials and civil servants were affected by corruption

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Bangladesh

Over the past two years how has the level of corruption in Bangladesh changed?

34 per cent say it has increased a lot

14 per cent say it has stayed the same

5 per cent say it has decreased a lot

 

To what extent do you think corruption is a problem in the public sector in Bangladesh?

55 per cent say it is a serious problem

15 per cent say it is a slight problem

3 per cent say it is not a problem at all

 

To what extent is this government run by a few big entities acting in their own best interests?

17 per cent say entirely

30 per cent say somewhat

10 per cent say not at all

 

How effective do you think your government's actions are in the fight against corruption?

8 per cent say they are very ineffective

42 per cent say they are neither effective nor ineffective

3 per cent say they are very effective

 

Percentage of respondents who felt these institutions were affected by corruption in Bangladesh

45 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that political parties were affected by corruption

41 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that parliament / legislature was affected by corruption

5 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that military was affected by corruption

6 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that NGOs were affected by corruption

9 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that media was affected by corruption

4 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that religious bodies were affected by corruption

18 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that business was affected by corruption

12 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that education systems were affected by corruption

53 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that judiciary was affected by corruption

33 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that medical and health services were affected by corruption

64 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that police were affected by corruption

29 per cent of people in Bangladesh thought that public officials and civil servants were affected by corruption

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United States

Percentage of respondents who felt these institutions were affected by corruption in United States

 

76 per cent of people in United States thought that political parties were affected by corruption

61 per cent of people in United States thought that parliament / legislature was affected by corruption

30 per cent of people in United States thought that military was affected by corruption

30 per cent of people in United States thought that NGOs were affected by corruption

58 per cent of people in United States thought that media was affected by corruption

35 per cent of people in United States thought that religious bodies were affected by corruption

53 per cent of people in United States thought that business was affected by corruption

34 per cent of people in United States thought that education systems were affected by corruption

42 per cent of people in United States thought that judiciary was affected by corruption

43 per cent of people in United States thought that medical and health services were affected by corruption

42 per cent of people in United States thought that police were affected by corruption

55 per cent of people in United States thought that public officials and civil servants were affected by corruption

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Sri Lanka

Percentage of respondents who felt these institutions were affected by corruption in Sri Lanka

 

51 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that political parties were affected by corruption

39 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that parliament / legislature was affected by corruption

13 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that military was affected by corruption

23 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that NGOs were affected by corruption

20 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that media was affected by corruption

10 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that religious bodies were affected by corruption

23 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that business was affected by corruption

33 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that education systems were affected by corruption

21 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that judiciary was affected by corruption

21 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that medical and health services were affected by corruption

64 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that police were affected by corruption

33 per cent of people in Sri Lanka thought that public officials and civil servants were affected by corruption

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Afghanistan

Percentage of respondents who felt these institutions were affected by corruption in Afghanistan

 

36 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that political parties were affected by corruption

40 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that parliament / legislature was affected by corruption

21 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that military was affected by corruption

34 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that NGOs were affected by corruption

21 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that media was affected by corruption

20 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that religious bodies were affected by corruption

35 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that business was affected by corruption

33 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that education systems were affected by corruption

60 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that judiciary was affected by corruption

31 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that medical and health services were affected by corruption

33 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that police were affected by corruption

43 per cent of people in Afghanistan thought that public officials and civil servants were affected by corruption

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Sierra Leone

Percentage of respondents who felt these institutions were affected by corruption in Sierra Leone

 

41 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that political parties were affected by corruption

53 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that parliament / legislature was affected by corruption

33 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that military was affected by corruption

33 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that NGOs were affected by corruption

47 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that media was affected by corruption

18 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that religious bodies were affected by corruption

38 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that business was affected by corruption

64 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that education systems were affected by corruption

74 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that judiciary was affected by corruption

55 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that medical and health services were affected by corruption

79 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that police were affected by corruption

42 per cent of people in Sierra Leone thought that public officials and civil servants were affected by corruption

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