In this blog we are going to find out some of the best Populations & citizens in the world states which are the most discipled in the least transparent circumstances.
Generally we consider that higher transparency states have lower crime rates but here in this article we are going to find out some of the very best populations who face low transparency and still you see lower crime rates in these states.
As per Transparency International & their Corruption Perceptions Index there are African & other states which are facing weaker Institutionalized & poor Governance and as a result there is higher crime rates but I want to start with those states where Transparency is not that much high but crime rates are still low. So here is the list.
Countries with Least Transparency & Least Crime Rate :
| Country | Transparency (Low CPI Score) | Crime Rate (Relatively Low) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qatar | Low transparency (CPI ~57/100) | Low crime rate | Authoritarian rule with strong internal security and strict laws. |
| United Arab Emirates | Moderate to low transparency (CPI ~68/100) | Very low crime rate | Heavy surveillance, strict penalties deter crime. |
| China | Low transparency (CPI ~42/100) | Relatively low street crime | Authoritarian system with high surveillance and harsh punishment. |
| Vietnam | Low transparency (CPI ~41/100) | Low violent crime | One-party system, strong social order, but weak press freedom. |
| Rwanda | Moderate to low transparency (CPI ~53/100) | Low crime rate | Strict control by the state; heavy policing and community surveillance. |
| Kazakhstan | Low transparency (CPI ~39/100) | Low reported crime | State-controlled media; social order maintained by government force. |
| Azerbaijan | Low transparency (CPI ~23/100) | Low crime rate | Strong central control suppresses both dissent and crime. |
| Saudi Arabia | Low transparency (CPI ~49/100) | Low public/street crime | Harsh legal penalties, religious enforcement, high state control. |
| Turkmenistan | Very low transparency (CPI ~18/100) | Low crime rate | One of the world’s most closed societies; extreme state control. |
| Cuba | Low transparency (CPI ~42/100) | Low violent crime | Heavy state surveillance and limited civil liberties. |
Key Insights: Why Crime Is Low in Less Transparent Countries
| Reason | Explanation | Countries Where This Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Authoritarian Control & Harsh Laws | Strong centralized power enforces law and order with little tolerance for crime or dissent. | Qatar, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan |
| High Surveillance & State Monitoring | Constant surveillance (CCTV, digital tracking) acts as a deterrent. | UAE, China, Rwanda, Cuba |
| Strict Religious or Cultural Norms | In some societies, religious teachings or traditional values discourage public wrongdoing. | Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Vietnam |
| Low Freedom = Low Reported Crime | Lack of press freedom and independent judiciary means some crimes may go unreported or underreported. | Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Cuba |
| One-Party or Stable Political Systems | Absence of political chaos or transitions leads to enforced stability. | Vietnam, Rwanda, China |
| Severe Punishments for Minor Crimes | Even petty crimes can lead to long sentences or public punishment, acting as a strong deterrent. | UAE, Saudi Arabia, China |
| Community or Social Surveillance | Citizens often police one another’s behavior due to fear, loyalty, or indoctrination. | Rwanda, Cuba, Vietnam |
Are People Just “Too Nice”?
- Partly, yes – but context matters. In some cultures (e.g., Vietnam, Rwanda), community discipline and social harmony play a role.
- However, in most of these cases, fear of state punishment, lack of freedom, and intense control are stronger reasons for low crime rates than people simply being nice.
Hidden Reason :
A low crime rate in these countries does not always indicate a just or fair society. In some, it comes at the cost of restricted freedom, censorship, and human rights violations.
Now let’s move towards something that is very obvious where poor governance is the reason for more crime rates.
Examples of Countries with Low Transparency & High Crime :
| Country | Transparency (CPI Score) | Crime Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Very low (CPI ~25/100) | High corruption, terrorism (Boko Haram), and kidnapping. |
| South Africa | Moderate to low (CPI ~41) | High violent crime rate, theft, and inequality. |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | Very low (CPI ~20) | Conflict-driven violence, weak law enforcement. |
| Jamaica | Low (CPI ~44) | Very high homicide rate; gang-related violence. |
| Haiti | Very low (CPI ~17) | Political chaos, high crime, kidnappings. |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Low (CPI ~41) | Increasing crime linked to drug trade and gangs. |
| Guatemala (Central America) | Low (CPI ~24) | High crime from narco-violence and corruption. |
| Venezuela | Extremely low (CPI ~13) | One of the highest crime rates globally. |
Main Reasons behind Higher Crime Rates in above Countries which is very Obvious :
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Poor Governance | Corruption, weak institutions, and lack of trust in public services. |
| Economic Hardship | High unemployment, inflation, and poverty fuel criminal behavior. |
| Low Education | Lack of access to education leads to limited opportunities and poor awareness. |
| Drug & Gang Influence | Drug trafficking and organized crime dominate urban and rural areas. |
| Weak Law Enforcement | Underfunded, understaffed, or corrupt police and judiciary systems. |
| Political Instability | Power vacuums and civil unrest allow criminal groups to flourish. |
General Pattern: Low Transparency & High Crime
| Region | Common Traits |
|---|---|
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Many countries suffer from poor governance, corruption, weak institutions, and organized crime (e.g., Nigeria, DRC, South Sudan). |
| Caribbean/West Indies | High homicide rates, gang violence, and drug trafficking (e.g., Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago) often coincide with lack of government transparency and institutional weakness. |
Countries with Low to Moderate Transparency but Relatively Low Crime
| Country | CPI Score (2023) | Transparency Level | Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | ~41 | Moderate | Low |
| Rwanda | ~53 | Moderate | Low |
| Qatar | ~57 | Moderate | Very Low |
| China | ~42 | Low | Low street crime |
| UAE | ~68 | Moderate to high | Very Low |
| North Korea | ~17 | Very Low | Low (reported) |
| Saudi Arabia | ~49 | Moderate | Low |
| Nepal | ~35 | Low | Low to moderate |
| Cambodia | ~24 | Low | Moderate |
| Malaysia | ~47 | Moderate | Moderate |
| Singapore | ~83 | Very High | Very Low |
| South Korea | ~63 | High | Very Low |
| Japan | ~73 | High | Very Low |
| Australia | ~75 | High | Low |
| Canada | ~76 | High | Low |
| USA | ~69 | Moderate to high | Moderate to high |
| England (UK) | ~73 | High | Low to moderate |
| France | ~72 | High | Moderate |
| Italy | ~56 | Moderate | Low to moderate |
| Portugal | ~62 | High | Very Low |
| Chile | ~66 | High (LatAm) | Low to moderate |
| Argentina | ~38 | Low | Moderate |
| Panama | ~36 | Low | Moderate |
| Costa Rica | ~54 | Moderate | Low to moderate |
| Israel | ~59 | Moderate to high | Low |
| Egypt | ~35 | Low | Low to moderate |
| Ghana | ~43 | Low | Moderate |
| Kenya | ~31 | Low | Moderate |
| Mali | ~28 | Very Low | High |
| Algeria | ~33 | Low | Low to moderate |
| Slovakia | ~54 | Moderate | Low |
| Slovenia | ~60 | Moderate to high | Very Low |
| Côte d’Ivoire | ~40 | Low | Moderate |
Countries where Cultural, Political or Social Factors That Help Maintain Lower Crime
| Country | Why Crime is Low / Controlled Despite Lower Transparency |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | Social harmony, cultural discipline, one-party rule |
| Rwanda | State control, community surveillance |
| Qatar | Strict laws, low tolerance, cultural norms |
| China | Surveillance state, fear of punishment |
| UAE | Tech-based law enforcement, strict penalties |
| North Korea | Totalitarian state, extreme surveillance, suppression |
| Saudi Arabia | Religious law, harsh penalties |
| Nepal | Community-based culture, low urbanization |
| Cambodia | Authoritarian tendencies, weak reporting culture |
| Malaysia | Strong urban policing, religious-cultural values |
| Singapore | Clean governance, rule of law, strict enforcement |
| South Korea | Transparent institutions, educated society, strong policing |
| Japan | High social discipline, cultural restraint |
| Australia | Strong democratic system, good public trust in policing |
| Canada | Effective justice system, high civic engagement |
| USA | Despite urban crime, legal enforcement and state authority maintain overall order |
| England (UK) | Well-developed policing systems, active civic participation |
| France | Democratic resilience, civil law structure, even amid urban unrest |
| Italy | National policing counters organized crime in most areas |
| Portugal | Strong civic culture, social safety nets |
| Chile | Stable governance in region, managing inequality |
| Argentina | Economic hardship balanced by democratic institutions |
| Panama | Crime linked to transit routes, but core governance keeps crime regionally managed |
| Costa Rica | Strong democratic traditions in Latin America, social values |
| Israel | High internal security, structured state enforcement |
| Egypt | Authoritarian state maintains tight grip on social order |
| Ghana | Gradual improvement in institutions, socially cohesive communities |
| Kenya | Civil society presence, though urban crime challenges exist |
| Mali | High crime due to instability, terrorism, weak institutions |
| Algeria | Moderate crime levels due to controlled social environment |
| Slovakia | EU rule-of-law environment, stable law enforcement |
| Slovenia | Peaceful society, strong civic institutions |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Post-conflict order improving governance slowly |
Final Words : The Best Populations & Societies in The World
The only reason to write this article regarding Transparency & Crime Rates is that some times certain countries are on their journey towards making a peaceful state and I think eventually more and more countries will go towards achieving peace in their states. But more importantly we can find from this article that there are still more people we can find in many countries which are spiritual & peaceful regardless of whether there is Transparency or not.
Here is more info on Peaceful Populations & Societies in the world regardless of Transparency.
Countries with Low Transparency, Low to Moderate Crime, and No Harsh Autocracy
| Country | CPI Score (2023) | Crime Rate | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | ~41 | Low | Social harmony, disciplined culture, low violent crime |
| Nepal | ~35 | Low to moderate | Community-oriented, not authoritarian, low urban crime |
| Indonesia | ~34 | Low to moderate | Democratic setup, decent policing in urban areas |
| Cambodia | ~24 | Moderate | Less violent crime; crime mainly opportunistic; some governance flaws |
| India | ~39 | Moderate (varies) | Democratic nation with social cohesion in many areas, crime varies by state |
| Russia | ~26 | Low | Low street crime; governance strong but not purely fear-based |
| China | ~42 | Low | Low crime from strong state presence and cultural compliance |
| Rwanda | ~53 | Low | Highly policed, but also socially ordered; less of a fear-based autocracy |
| Malaysia | ~47 | Moderate | Good policing, religious-cultural norms, not a harsh autocracy |
| Algeria | ~33 | Low to moderate | Social control through law, not extreme fear; relatively peaceful cities |
| Ghana | ~43 | Moderate | Democratic society, rising civic awareness, petty crime more than violence |
| Costa Rica | ~54 | Low to moderate | Safe society, even with mid-level transparency, strong democratic values |
| Slovakia | ~54 | Low | Moderate transparency, low crime, EU-aligned institutions |
| Slovenia | ~60 | Very low | Very peaceful, high quality of life, moderate transparency |
| Portugal | ~62 | Very low | Excellent civic sense and education, not just governance-led peace |
| Thailand | ~35 | Low to moderate | Religious values, tourism protection, not authoritarian |
| Laos | ~30 | Low | Quiet society, Buddhist influence, state-controlled but not oppressive |
So, this is it regarding Transparency & Crime Rates related comparisons of many countries. I think the very last table shows you some of the very best populations who are spiritual & peaceful regardless of transparency so that’s the most interesting thing you can learn from it.
Still there are different people & situations everywhere so try to be safe & try to be at the safest places when you are traveling.
I think this article is going to be useful for UPSC Aspirants also that give it a glance and it will be useful for you in future. Further, anyways it is a good info that provides better things to learn for various states or countries to everyone.
I hope you like it.