transparency international

Nonprofits and advocacy groups use the rankings as a tool to name and shame countries into improving their policies. But the indexes do have some drawbacks.

The latest Corruption Perceptions Index shows the U.S. dropped six spots, to No. 22 out of 180 countries and territories. It's listed right after France and before the United Arab Emirates.

North Korea and Somalia are perceived to be the most corrupt countries, according to the Corruption Perception Index released today by Transparency International. Denmark is seen as least corrupt.