Syria Second-to-last on 2022 Global Corruption Index

Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria – North Press/archive
Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria – North Press/archive

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press ) – Syria ranks second-to-last in global corruption index released by Transparency International, a watchdog, on Tuesday.

The country tied with South Sudan for the 178th position out of 180, placed only above Somalia, according to the Berlin-based organization’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index.

The UAE is the Middle East’s least corrupt country, ranking 24th out of 180.

Turkey, on the other hand, slipped two points since 2021, to the 101st position.  

The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index explained that corruption in the Middle East is “undermining democratic processes, causing pervasive civil unrest and fuelling violence.”

Western Europe is least affected by graft; eight of the ten top spots were given to countries from this region. The first three positions went to Denmark, New Zealand and Finland.

“Global peace has been deteriorating for 15 years. Corruption has been both a key cause and result of this,” the report concludes.