Compared to the rest of the world, how corrupt is the United States?

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

1. What is the least corrupt country in the world?

2. What is the most corrupt country in the world?

3. The United States is currently ranked as the 28th least corrupt country in the world (four positions more corrupt than last year). The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) uses a scale from 100 to 0 to measure the level of corruption in a country. 100 is very clean and 0 is highly corrupt. Overall, how does the U.S. compare to other countries in terms of corruption?

4. Describe any geographical patterns you see in corruption.

5. Why do you think that is?

6. President Trump has worked very hard to make his presidential actions less transparent and he has allowed a high level of conflict of interest to creep into his administration. All of this makes corruption and graft more likely. How do you think the Trump presidency will impact our future rankings from Transparency International.

7. What does corrupt mean anyway and how does Transparency International define it?

8. What is one consequence of America’s worsening corruption ranking?

9. According to Patricia Moreira, Director of Transparency America, “Corruption chips away at democracy to produce a vicious cycle, where corruption undermines democratic institutions and, in turn, weak institutions are less able to control corruption.” How do you explain the connection between democracy and corruption?

10. The U.S. has fallen in the world corruption index ranking by 11 places over the past 9 year. According to Transparency International, “With a score of 65, the United States lost eight points in two years. The low score comes at a time when the US is experiencing threats to its system of checks and balances as well as an erosion of ethical norms at the highest levels of power.” How will the continued erosion of American leadership impact our political future?

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

You can co-sponsor the American Anti-Corruption Act.

Get Creative

In recent years, the U.S. has been getting more corrupt. Make a creative response imagining a future America that is more corrupt.

Learn More

Check out the entire CPI interactive map and the entire 2024 CPI report.