Iraq Improves On 2024 Corruption Survey

For a decade after the 2003 invasion Iraq ranked at the very bottom of Transparency International’s Corruption Index. In recent years the country has been getting better scores. This appears to be mostly because other countries are doing worse than any real improvement by Iraq.

 

In 2024 Iraq received a score of 26 out of 100 on the Corruption Index. The lower the score the worse the country was doing. The previous three years Iraq got a 23. After the fall of Saddam Hussein the country was in single digits.

 

In the Middle East and North Africa Iraq was sixth from the bottom with Syria, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon and Iran below it. The United Arab Emirates got the best score with a 68 out of 100.

 

It’s hard to see how Iraq improved its score on the index. Last year the Theft of the Century was revealed where over $2.5 billion was stolen from the tax commission. The head of the anti-corruption Integrity Commission Judge Haidar Hanoun was forced to resign in October after he accused another judge of helping to cover up that crime. Every week there are other stories of government theft and graft.

 

Corruption is part of Iraq’s political system with the ruling parties using their positions to enrich themselves. This is true in many countries. The difference is that Iraq has more money to steal with its vast oil wealth. The reason for Iraq’s better score then is likely due to other countries in the region doing worse rather than any real change in Baghdad.

 

Iraq’s Score On Corruption Perceptions Index

2024 – 26

2023 – 23

2022 – 23

2021 – 23

2020 – 21

2019 – 20

2018 – 18

2017 – 18

2016 – 17

2015 – 16

 

Middle East Countries Ranked On Corruption Index 2024

UAE #23 Score 68/100

Israel #30 Score 64

Qatar #38 Score 59

Saudi Arabia #38 Score 59

Oman #50 Score 55

Bahrain #53 Score 53

Jordan #59 Score 49

Tunisia #92 Score 39

Morocco #99 Score 37

Algeria #107 Score 34

Egypt #130 Score 30

Iraq #140 Score 26

Iran #151 Score 23

Lebanon #154 Score 22

Libya #173 Score 13

Yemen #173 Score 13

Syria #177 Score 12

 

SOURCES

 

Transparency International, “Corruption Perceptions Index 2024,” 2/11/25

- “CPI 2024 For The Middle East & North Africa: Corruption Linked To Authoritarianism, But Calls For Reform Emerging,” 2/11/25