As of 2024, several African countries remain deeply impacted by corruption, which affects their citizens’ lives and hampers economic development.
- Business Insider Africa presents the 10 most corrupt African nations
- The list is courtesy Transparency International’s CPI 2024 report
- Lowest scores were reported in Somalia, South Sudan and Libya
Countries struggling with high corruption levels in Africa often face numerous challenges, including political instability, mismanagement of resources, and insufficient accountability structures.
According to the 2024 Transparency International report, the Sub-Saharan African region once again registered the lowest average score on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), at just 33 out of 100, with 90 per cent of countries scoring below 50.
Using data from 13 external sources, including the World Bank, World Economic Forum, private risk and consulting companies, the CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
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The latest report highlights that Seychelles (CPI score: 72), Cabo Verde (62), Botswana (57), and Rwanda (57) are the top scorers in the region.
In contrast, countries with the lowest scores saw further declines this year, including Equatorial Guinea (13), Eritrea (13), Somalia (9), and South Sudan (8).
On a global scale, the report underscores widespread corruption, with over two-thirds of nations scoring below 50 out of 100.
The global average remains stagnant at 43, signaling the urgent need for decisive action to combat corruption, which poses a significant barrier to the effective implementation of climate action worldwide.
Speaking, François Valérian, Chair of Transparency International said: “Corruption is an evolving global threat that does far more than undermine development – it is a key cause of declining democracy, instability and human rights violations. The international community and every nation must make tackling corruption a top and long-term priority.”
According to the latest report, the following countries are perceived as the most corrupt in Africa in 2024;
| Rank | Global rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 180 | South Sudan | 8 |
| 2 | 179 | Somalia | 9 |
| 3 | 173 | Libya | 13 |
| 4 | 173 | Eritrea | 13 |
| 5 | 173 | Equatorial Guinea | 13 |
| 6 | 170 | Sudan | 15 |
| 7 | 165 | Burundi | 17 |
| 8 | 163 | DRC | 20 |
| 9 | 158 | Zimbabwe | 21 |
| 10 | 158 | Guinea Bissau | 21 |
Corruption in Africa
Many challenges have been identified as contributing to the increased corruption levels across the African continent.
Key factors include weak governance, political instability, lack of transparency, and inadequate legal frameworks that fail to hold public officials accountable.
In countries where political power is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals or groups, corruption flourishes as the ruling elite exploit resources for personal gain, often at the expense of the public.
For example, in Somalia, ongoing conflict and a weak central government have led to widespread corruption, severely hindering development and limiting citizens’ access to justice and basic services.
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Similarly, in South Sudan, corruption has plagued the young nation, with power struggles and the diversion of essential funds exacerbating its economic instability
This corruption negatively affects the economy by deterring foreign investment, diverting public resources from essential services, and increasing poverty and inequality.
Tackling this issue requires comprehensive reforms and the strengthening of governance frameworks to ensure that resources are used for the benefit of all.
