The vast majority of the 180 countries included in the 2009 The vast majority of the 180 countries included in the 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), score below five on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (perceived to have low levels of corruption). The CPI measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in a given country and is a composite index, drawing on 13 different expert and business surveys.
CPI score below five on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (perceived to have low levels of corruption). The CPI measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in a given country and is a composite index, drawing on 13 different expert and business surveys. The 2009 edition scores 180 countries, the same number as the 2008 CPI.
Highest scorers in the 2009 CPI are New Zealand at 9.4, Denmark at 9.3, Singapore and Sweden tied at 9.2 and Switzerland at 9.0. These scores reflect political stability, long-established conflict of interest regulations and solid, functioning public institutions.
Several countries of the European Union are among the 2009 top scorers. However, the index also demonstrates that the region is far from corruption-free and many achievements are still precarious. Also demonstrates that being a member of the EU does not necessary means that a country becomes less corrupted.
Corruption Perceptions Index 2009 for European Union and Western Europe Countries Image Credit: http://www.transparency.org/
Greece, which registered a significant drop in score from 4.7 in 2008 to 3.8 this year, is particularly concerning, scored last among the EU countries with Romania and Bulgaria (71 in the global rank).
The 2009 score reflects insufficient levels of anti-corruption enforcement, lengthy delays in the judicial process and a string of corporate corruption scandals which point to systemic weaknesses. Greece’s poor score shows that joining the EU does not automatically translate into a reduction in corruption. Immediate and sustained efforts are required to ensure the country lives up to acceptable levels of transparency and accountability.
United Kingdom has ranked 17 with a score 7.7.
France has ranked 24 with a score 6.9
Italy has ranked 63 with a score of 4.3.
In the Americas, Canada remains at the top of the list, ranked 8 globally. It continues to be among the ten countries with the lowest perceived levels of corruption worldwide, serving as a benchmark and inspiration for the Americas. The United States (US) score remains stable at 7.5 (19 globally) despite widespread concerns over a lack of government oversight in relation to the financial sector.
Trinidad and Tobago has ranked 79 with a score of 3.6
