These are the 18 most corrupt countries in the developed world

Transparency International, the global anticorruption coalition, each year releases its Corruption Perceptions Index, a survey into the countries people perceive as the most corrupt.

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As Transparency International notes, there is no hard-and-fast way "to assess absolute levels of corruption in countries or territories on the basis of hard empirical data." This is basically because, by its very nature, corruption is usually hidden from the public.

El CHapo capture
Recaptured drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is escorted by soldiers at the hangar belonging to the office of the Attorney General in Mexico City, Mexico January 8, 2016 REUTERS/Henry Romero

But the organization nevertheless creates a ranking based on several other corruption studies, giving 168 countries a ranking out of 100, where 100 is the least corrupt and zero is most corrupt. This helps to give a pretty good idea of where corruption thrives.

The countries seen as most corrupt tend to be in Africa and the Middle East, in societies with weak legal and governmental systems and widespread poverty. Somalia is tied with North Korea atop this year's list with a score of 8, with Afghanistan (11) and Sudan (12) close behind. Denmark appeared at the opposite end with a score of 91.

Business Insider decided to take a look at the wealthy, democratic nations where corruption is most rife. To do so, we looked at the positions of countries within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and then picked out those with the highest levels of perceived corruption.

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Check them out below:

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T-17. Ireland — Scoring 75 points overall, Ireland was one of the less corrupt countries worldwide. But a 2015 documentary from the TV network RTE showed that politicians at all levels in the country had incorrectly declared their interests, with certain councillors seeking cash payments in return for their services.

ireland fan
REUTERS

T-17. Japan — While Japan is relatively uncorrupt by global standards, GAN Integrity's anticorruption portal note that there is a traditional practice (known as amakudari) of assigning retired government officials to top positions within Japanese companies, even if they do not have the proper experience.

Well-wishers wave Japanese national flags to celebrate Japan's Emperor Akihito's 79th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo December 23, 2012.
Go Japan! REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoo
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T-14. Chile — Despite being one of the most corrupt countries in the OECD, Chile is one of the least corrupt in Latin America, where countries like Brazil, Venezuela, and Paraguay are riddled with bribery and fraud. Overall, Chile scored 70 points, 3 fewer than in last year's index.

GettyImages 451094484 Chile fans enjoy the atmosphere prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between the Netherlands and Chile at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 23, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by )
Chile fans enjoy the atmosphere prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between the Netherlands and Chile at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 23, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

T-14. Estonia — In 2012, Estonia's president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, helped implement an anticorruption act to increase transparency in the public sector. It has helped improve its Corruption Index score to 70 from 69.

Estonia president military
Estonia's President Toomas Hendrik Ilves (centre R) inspects soldiers during military parade celebrating Estonia's Independence. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
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T-14. France — France has become slightly less corrupt in the past year, gaining a single point and scoring 70 out of 100, and corruption is not massively widespread. GAN notes that "The Penal Code criminalises active and passive bribery and bribery of national and foreign officials."

A French soccer fan smokes a cigarette as he watches the 2014 World Cup soccer match between France and Switzerland on a large screen at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, June 20, 2014.
France is up there. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

13. Portugal — In an Ernst & Young survey in June 2015, 83% of Portuguese citizens said corruption and bribery were widespread in the country, and in 2014, former Prime Minister Jose Socrates was detained on suspicion of tax fraud and money laundering. Portugal scored 63 points in the Transparency Index.

Portugal graffiti pray for
A gardener walks past a wall with graffiti that reads, "Pray for Portugal" and "Good Lord release us from those corrupt pigs that raged across Portugal" in Lisbon April 9, 2013. REUTERS/Jose Manuel Ribeiro
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12. Poland — Scoring 62 points in the Index, Poland just misses out on being one of the 10 most corrupt OECD nations.

poland fan frown
REUTERS/Pawel Ulatowski

According to GAN Integrity: "Political corruption constitutes a challenge to fair business as politicians use their positions to gain benefits, and practices of nepotism and cronyism are widespread."

11. Israel — Israel scored 61 out of 100 in the Corruption Perceptions Index. In May 2015, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was convicted of illegally taking more than $150,000 from an American tycoon.

israel settler rally high iso
Rafi Letzter/Tech Insider
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10. Slovenia — There have been several high-profile corruption scandals in Slovenia in recent years. For example, in 2013 and 2014 there were mass protests against Prime Minister Janez Janša and opposition leader Zoran Janković because they had been accused of failing to properly declare their personal assets.

Slovenia pig corruption protest
A man dressed as a pig attends an anti-corruption protest in Ljubljana January 17, 2014. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic
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T-7. Czech Republic — In the most recent Corruption Perceptions Index, the Czech Republic had 56 points, up from 51 in last year's survey. The score seems to reflect the end of a major political-corruption scandal, which in 2013 forced Prime Minister Petr Necas to resign.

Czech organised crime prime minister police
Police officers stand in front of former Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas (C) after he arrived for questioning over corruption allegations at the headquarters of the Unit for Combating Organized Crime in Prague July 12, 2013. REUTERS/David W Cerny

T-7. South Korea — Corruption was a big issue in South Korea in 2015, with Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo forced to resign after being accused of taking bribes in the suicide note of a prominent businessman. South Korea scored 56 out of 100 on the corruption index.

south korea casino
Men play poker at the Paradise Walker-hill casino in Seoul September 17, 2007. Reuters
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T-5. Hungary — Hungary fell to 51 points from 54 points in last year's survey. The practice of giving doctors and surgeons a small bribe is widespread in the country, with one survey saying that 92% of Hungarians think it is an appropriate thing to do.

Hungary prison
A gang of prison inmates walk along the Hungarian-Serbian border near a migrant collection point in Roszke, Hungary September 11, 2015. REUTERS/David Balogh

T-5. Slovakia — Also scoring 51 out of 100, Slovakia is up there with the most corrupt countries in Europe. Recent years have seen the Gorilla Scandal, in which politicians, officials, and business executives were accused of taking and giving bribes to secure contracts.

Slovakia corruption protest
A protester wearing a gorilla mask attends a rally at Hviezdoslavovo Square in Bratislava February 24, 2012. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa
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4. Greece — Corruption in Greece has fallen since last year's survey, with the country scoring 46 points compared with 43 last time. The practice of "fakelaki," a colloquial term for bribes given to get better service, is allegedly widespread in the country.

greece atm
People line up at an ATM outside a National Bank branch in Athens, Greece, July 3, 2015. Reuters

3. Italy — Corruption in the eurozone's third-biggest economy is often associated with former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has been accused of corruption numerous times, was convicted of tax fraud in 2013, and was found guilty of bribing a senator in 2015. Italy scored 44 points in the Corruption Perceptions Index.

Silvio Berlusconi italy
REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
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2. Turkey — Turkey ranks as the most corrupt country in Europe, scoring 42 points out of 100. In 2013 the country was rocked by a massive scandal involving the director of a state-owned bank, and many senior business people allegedly taking part in bribery, fraud, smuggling, and money laundering.

Turkey
Demonstrators cover their faces as they clash with riot police during a protest against the curfew in Sur district, in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, Turkey, December 14, 2015. Reuters

1. Mexico — By far the OECD's most corrupt country is Mexico, scoring just 35 points. This is perhaps unsurprising given that Mexico is at the heart of the trade to bring drugs from Latin America into the US. Notorious drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán has managed to escape prison twice, helped by giving huge bribes to prison officials.

El CHapo capture
Recaptured drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is escorted by soldiers at the hangar belonging to the office of the Attorney General in Mexico City, Mexico January 8, 2016 REUTERS/Henry Romero
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