Transparency International, the organisation leading the fight against global corruption, says its just-released index of public-sector corruption shows New Zealand is the least corrupt country in the world.
Denmark, Finland and Sweden follow in second, third and fourth place. Australia is rated the least corrupt of the G20 countries, in joint eighth position with Switzerland.
Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index scores 183 countries from zero (highly corrupt) to 10 points (very clean), based on data from 17 surveys that examine factors such as the enforcement of anti-corruption laws, access to information and conflicts of interest.
New Zealand, which is not part of the G20, scored 9.5 while Australia achieved 8.8.
Two thirds of ranked countries scored less than five: Greece being one of them on 3.4, along with Morocco, Thailand and Peru. The score puts the three countries in 80th position in the corruption league.
China, Australia’s number-one trading partner and a country synonymous with corruption had a slightly higher score of 3.6, putting it in 75th place.
Cyprus achieved 6.3 points and 30th in the world ranking, making it the cleanest Mediterranean country other than France (8 points and 25th). The United States scored 7.1 and was 24th. In joint last position are North Korea and Somalia, both scoring one point.
Transparency International warned that protests seen around the world in 2011, fuelled largely by corruption and economic instability, show citizens feel public institutions and their leaders were neither transparent nor accountable enough.
“This year we have seen corruption on protesters’ banners, be they rich or poor,” said Transparency International’s chairperson Huguette Labelle at the release of the report in Berlin. Germany came 14th with a score of 8.
“Whether in a Europe hit by debt crisis, or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government,” said Ms Labelle.
Source: www.transparency.org