The most corrupt countries in the world - and how the UK ranks
Boris Johnson claims sleaze attacks do ‘disservice’ to citizens of genuinely ‘dirty’ nations
![Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kqgKFEmBd7VEkt5ch9NJfN-415-80.jpg)
The prime minister has insisted that Britain is “one of the cleanest democracies” in the world, after being accused of being at the “rotten core” of Tory sleaze scandals.
In what The Times’ Quentin Letts described as a “grotty” PMQs session, Labour leader Keir Starmer called on Boris Johnson to apologise for “trying to give the green light to corruption” by attempting to let Tory MP Owen Paterson “off the hook”.
“He led his troops through the sewers to cover up corruption, and he cannot even say sorry,” Starmer told the Commons.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Johnson argued that the “constant attacks” about alleged sleaze in the UK political system “do a massive disservice to billions of people around the world who genuinely suffer from governments who are corrupt, and who genuinely have no ability to scrutinise their MPs”.
The PM was echoing his claim last week that the UK was “not remotely a corrupt country” – a claim that from “a purely objective point”, can easily be confirmed, wrote John Humphrys for YouGov. Humphrys pointed to the most recent Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from Transparency International, which was compiled last year.
Denmark and New Zealand are placed jointly as the least corrupt nations on Earth, while Somalia and South Sudan are joint worst, at 179 on the list. Other countries at the bottom end of the scale include war-torn Syria, Yemen and Libya, as well as the hermit state of North Korea.
Britain comes joint 11th, “a pretty respectable position to be in”, said Humphrys. And with close neighbours including France and Ireland ranking lower, “we don’t have to compare Britain to the most unhappy basket cases of the developing world to console ourselves with our lack of relative corruption”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Johnson has said that “we have a very, very tough system of parliamentary democracy and scrutiny, not least by the media”.
But Jonathan Evans, chair of the Committee of Standards in Public Life, has warned that the robustness of the system relies on constant vigilance.
In a speech earlier this month at the Institute for Government conference, he said: “We could slip into being a corrupt country and that’s why we need to be vigilant around these issues. It is also quite possible that we could slip in terms of international perceptions of us.”
After No. 10 tried to block sanctions against Paterson, who broke lobbying rules, “Westminster insiders and voters alike have begun to ask if this government has finally pushed its carefree approach to the rules too far”, agreed Politico.
Robert Barrington, a professor of anti-corruption practice at the University of Sussex, told the news site that “if you talk to corruption specialists, some would say, ‘yes, it’s already acting corruptly,’ and some would say it’s not quite. My personal view is it’s teetering on the edge.”
While Britain rates well on the CPI scale for now, said Politico, “too many transgressions could shift the dial when the index is next updated”.
The least corrupt countries
1. New Zealand
1. Denmark
3. Finland
3. Switzerland
3. Singapore
3. Sweden
7. Norway
8. Netherlands
9. Luxembourg
10. Germany
The most corrupt countries
179 Somalia
179 South Sudan
178 Syria
176. Venezuela
176. Yemen
174. Sudan
174. Equatorial Guinea
173. Libya
170. North Korea
170. Democratic Republic of the Congo
170. Haiti
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Charlotte Dujardin and equestrianism's dark side
In the Spotlight Olympic gold medallist and dressage star's suspension over horse whipping brings abuse in horse sports back into the spotlight
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why Roman epic Those About to Die has split the critics
Talking Point Sword and sandals miniseries starring Anthony Hopkins puts spectacle above story
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Why is China stockpiling resources?
The Explainer The superpower has been amassing huge reserves of commodities at great cost despite its economic downturn
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Iwao Hakamada: Japan's record-breaking death row prisoner
Under the Radar Former boxer spent 46 years condemned to execution but his retrial could clear his name
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How strawberries are funding crime in Sweden
Under the Radar Police say illegal fruit sales turn over 'billions' of kronor a year for gangsters
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
France's 'swinger' capital rocked by fortune teller scandal
Under the Radar Mayor charged with corruption for 'lavishing' taxpayers' money on clairvoyant who 'impersonated' his dead father
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Trump hush money trial: what has the jury heard?
Today's Big Question Former loyal fixer Michael Cohen proves star witness for prosecution, but Stormy Daniels's graphic testimony could offer grounds for appeal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Weinstein's appeal: a blow to #MeToo
Talking Point Is 'shocking' reversal of symbolic conviction a sign of weakening movement?
By The Week UK Published
-
Do youth curfews work?
Today's big question Banning unaccompanied children from towns and cities is popular with some voters but is contentious politically
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Sydney mall attacker may have targeted women
Speed Read Police commissioner says gender of victims is 'area of interest' to investigators
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why are kidnappings in Nigeria on the rise again?
Today's Big Question Hundreds of children and displaced people are missing as kidnap-for-ransom 'bandits' return
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published