Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, the youngest prime minister of Iceland, found himself among the world's most corrupt politicians, ultimately retiring from his position in 2016 following the release of the Panama Papers.
Petro Oleksiyovych Poroshenko, Ukraine's ex-President from 2014 to 2019, is the ninth-most corrupt politician in 2023. Accused of damaging Ukraine's economy, he's alleged to have embezzled over $3 billion, per the Ukraine Accountability Bureau.
The president of North Korea, Kim Jong UN comes at No. 8 position among corrupt politicians for many reasons.
The former British prime minister is also known as the most corrupt politician in the world. Despite coming from the wealthiest family, David Cameron has been accused of wrongdoing and founded an offshore business.
Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, ranks fifth on the list of corrupt politicians worldwide. The Panama Papers claim that he amassed assets worth almost $150 billion through improper use of the treasury.
On the list of politicians who are the most corrupt, Narendra Modi is ranked fifth. He is the fourth most corrupt prime minister in the world, behind King Salman, Putin, and Nawaz Shareef.
Asif Ali Zardari, a highly corrupt politician in Pakistan, lost his top corruption ranking to Nawaz Sharif after the Panama Papers release. He faces numerous allegations, including involvement in the murder of Benazir Bhutto.
Salman bin Abdulaziz, a statesman and politician from Saudi Arabia, was ranked as the world's third most corrupt politician. He has held the positions of Prime Minister, Head of the House of Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and King of Saudi Arabia.
Vladimir Putin, the world's second most corrupt politician in 2023, is also recognized as one of the most powerful leaders. He has held the positions of Prime Minister and President in Russia, enjoying high domestic approval and global attention.
Nawaz Sharif, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, is now considered the world's most corrupt politician, due to his involvement in approximately $418 million in corruption and an estimated $30 billion in illicit assets since 1985.