More than two thirds of all countries are corrupt, with Russia and China among them… and Somalia the worst in the world, say Transparency International

  • Somalia, South Sudan and Syria named the most corrupt nations in the world 
  • UK named 8th least corrupt nation alongside Canada, Luxembourg and Holland
  • US was placed 16th, up from 18th last year in Transparency International's index 
  • Russia and China scored below 50 in the index, which uses a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean)

More than two thirds of all countries are corrupt - with Russia and China among them, a major study has revealed.

Somalia has once again been named the world's most corrupt nation while New Zealand and Denmark topped the opposite end of the list, produced by Transparency International.

Britain was named the eighth least corrupt country alongside Canada, Luxembourg and the Netherlands while the US was joint sixteenth along with Belgium and Austria. 

Transparency ranks 180 countries and territories by perceived levels of public sector corruption where zero is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. 

This year, it found that more than two-thirds of countries scored below 50 including China, on 41, and Russia, which received a score of just 29.

More than two thirds of all countries are corrupt with Somalia named the worst, a major study has revealed. Pictured: Militants belonging to Somalia's Al-Qaeda-inspired Shebab Islamists

More than two thirds of all countries are corrupt with Somalia named the worst, a major study has revealed. Pictured: Militants belonging to Somalia's Al-Qaeda-inspired Shebab Islamists

This year, Transparency International's index found that more than two-thirds of countries scored below 50 including China, on 41, and Russia, which received a score of just 29. Pictured: A military display in Red Square, Moscow

This year, Transparency International's index found that more than two-thirds of countries scored below 50 including China, on 41, and Russia, which received a score of just 29. Pictured: A military display in Red Square, Moscow

China was named among the countries with a score of below 50 out of 100. Countries with scores closer to 100 are seen as being less corrupt. Pictured: Chinese politicians stand for the national anthem during the closing session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in October

China was named among the countries with a score of below 50 out of 100. Countries with scores closer to 100 are seen as being less corrupt. Pictured: Chinese politicians stand for the national anthem during the closing session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in October

Its annual Corruption Perceptions Index gave the United Kingdom a score of 82 - a one point improvement on last year but behind the likes of Finland, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Singapore and Sweden. The US received a score of 75.

Australia fell eight points since 2012 and is now ranked in 13th place with 77 points, tied with Hong Kong and Iceland. 

At the bottom end of the table, Somalia, with a score of just nine, was ranked most corrupt, followed by South Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen. 

Transparency International released the findings along with a warning that corruption continues to be a global problem with the majority of countries moving too slowly in their efforts to combat it.

The watchdog said its 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index 'reveals some disturbing information.'

At the bottom end of the table, Somalia, with a score of just nine, was ranked most corrupt, followed by South Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen

At the bottom end of the table, Somalia, with a score of just nine, was ranked most corrupt, followed by South Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen

War-torn Yemen was named close to the bottom of the list with a score of just 16 out of 100

War-torn Yemen was named close to the bottom of the list with a score of just 16 out of 100

'Despite attempts to combat corruption around the world, the majority of countries are moving too slowly in their efforts,' the Berlin-based organisation said. 

'While stemming the tide against corruption takes time, in the last six years many countries have still made little to no progress.' 

Transparency's index relies upon 13 expert data sources, including assessments from the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the World Economic Forum, to determine levels of bribery, diversion of public funds, use of public office for private gain and other issues of corruption.

The best performing region was Western Europe with an average score of 66, while the worst performing region was sub-Saharan Africa with an average of 32, followed closely by Eastern Europe and Central Asia with an average of 34. The global average was 43. 

Britain was cited as one of the most improved over the past six years, raising its score by eight points since 2012 to 82, placing it in this year's rankings one point above Germany and tied with the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Canada. 

The United States was tied in 16th place, along with Austria and Belgium, with a score of 75.

Other large increases since 2012 were seen in Greece, which rose 12 points to a score of 48 to put it in 59th place this year, Belarus which rose 13 points for a score of 44 and 68th place, and Myanmar which rose 15 points for a score of 30 and 130th place. 

Large declines since 2012 included Syria, which dropped 12 points, Bahrain, which dropped 15, and St. Lucia, which dropped 16.

Incorporating data from the Committee to Protect Journalists, Transparency said it found that journalists were in particular danger in corrupt nations.

Over the last six years, more than nine of 10 journalists were killed in countries that scored lower than 45 on the index, and one in five journalists who died was covering a story about corruption.

Looking at data from the World Justice Project, Transparency said it found that most countries that score low for civil liberties also tend to score high for corruption.

'Smear campaigns, harassment, lawsuits and bureaucratic red tape are all tools used by certain governments in an effort to quiet those who drive anti-corruption efforts,' said Patricia Moreira, Transparency's managing director.