Global watchdog Transparency International has just released its latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), an annual poll which tracks perceived levels of graft in countries around the world – and the overall picture remains bleak.
The CPI ranks countries from 1 to 10, with 1 being the most corrupt and 10 being the least: two thirds of countries in this year's Index ranked under 5. Perennial leaders New Zealand, Finland and Denmark are at the top of the table, with Somalia and (ranked for the first time) North Korea at the very bottom – both score just 1.0.
One trend that stands out this year, according to Transparency International, is the correlation between perceived corruption and the wave of protests that has swept the world in 2011. Most Arab Spring states fare poorly, with scores under 4 (Egypt is 112th out of 182 and Libya is 168th).
Meanwhile in Europe, the states which rank lowest are those which have seen protests and changes of government. Italy, for example, ranks 69th – below states including Macedonia, Georgia, and Slovakia.
There is no direct correlation between wealth and transparency: states like Russia ranking below Nigeria, Syria, and Eritrea, whilst Botswana beats Taiwan, Israel and South Korea. In a press release, Transparency said that high-scoring countries indicated that “over time efforts to improve transparency can, if sustained, be successful and benefit their people”.
Although the CPI is based on perceptions rather than any objective indicator, it is a useful tool for activists and civil society groups seeking to tackle corruption in their countries.
Sources: The Guardian, Transparency International
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