According to Transparency International, Afghanistan has scored only 16 points out of 100 on the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index. 

Based on the report, Afghanistan averaged 14.23 points from 2005 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 25 Points in 2005 and a record low of 8 Points in 2012. 

The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, according to experts and businesspeople, uses a scale of zero to 100, where zero is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

From 100 points, Afghanistan scored 16 points and placed 172 out of 180 countries after North Korea, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia. 

According to the report, the top countries included Denmark and New Zealand with scores of 88 and 87, respectively, while countries such as Somalia, Syria and South Sudan had scores of 10, 13 and 13, respectively.

Transparency International officials believe that corruption increases in a nation when rule of law and democracy weaken and restrictions are imposed on civili society institutions and the media. 

“Corruption is much more likely to flourish where democratic foundations are weak and, as we have seen in many countries, where undemocratic and populist politicians can use it to their advantage,” said TI chair Delia Ferreira Rubio. 

It also says that corruption has significantly increased across the world including Europe and the US.