Watchdog organization releases annual corruption survey

World Today

2014-Corruption-Perceptions-Index--Results

BERLIN — A leading anti-graft watchdog organization released its annual global survey of corruption perception.

In Transparency International’s 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index a zero score indicates a country is perceived to be highly corrupt. The highest score is 100 for perceiving to be very clean.

Denmark was the best ranked country with 92 points. Others in the top 10 included New Zealand, Finland, Sweden, Singapore and Canada. The United States improved slightly to 74 points, ranking 17th overall.

Hover over map to see ranking of individual countries.

The index is based on expert opinions of public sector corruption, looking at a range of factors like whether governmental leaders are held to account or go unpunished for corruption, the perceived prevalence of bribery, and whether public institutions respond to citizens’ needs.

“Countries at the bottom need to adopt radical anti-corruption measures in favor of their people,” said Transparency’s head, Jose Ugaz, in a statement. “Countries at the top of the index should make sure they don’t export corrupt practices to underdeveloped countries.”

China, with 36 points, fell four points compared with 2013, just like Angola, which scored 19 this year. Turkey fell five points to 45.

More than two thirds of the 175 countries ranked scored below 50, with the DPRK and Somalia coming last, each with eight points. Others in the bottom 10 included South Sudan, Iraq, and Libya.

The countries that showed the greatest improvement were Ivory Coast, Egypt, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — all of which rose five points. Afghanistan, which was in last place in 2013, rose four points, as did Jordan, Mali and Swaziland.

http://www.transparency.org/cpi2014/

Click below to read the complete report.

Story compiled with information from Reuters and The Associated Press.