Netherlands named 5th least corrupt country in new index

Public-sector corruption was still a major problem around the world but more countries were improving than worsening, the index concluded. India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh scored the same or less as compared to their scores in 2014, the Transparency International (TI) said in its report on the CPI 2015, Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Points-wise, Luxembourg scored 81, a drop of one point from past year on a scale that sees 0 as extremely corrupt and 100 as very clean from corruption.

However, 2015 saw more countries cleaning up than becoming more crooked, according to the review. The index measured the performance of 168 countries and it shows that more countries improved their scores than those that declined from their 2014 scores.

Globally, Denmark, Finland and Sweden were rated as the least corrupt countries with scores of 91, 90 and 89 respectively, while North Korea and Somalia tied for the lowest place with eight points.

Brazil suffered the sharpest deterioration in public perceptions of corruption.

Set up in 1995, the Corruption Perception Index is compiled every year by Transparency International and reflects perceptions of corruption around the world in public sectors as well as administrative and political corruption.

Somalia and North Korea are listed as the world’s most corrupt nations in a survey conducted by Transparency International. The big improvers include Greece, Senegal and UK.

The unfolding Petrobras scandal brought people into the streets in 2015 and the start of judicial process may help Brazil stop corruption.

The United States rose one notch to 16th with a score of 76 points, its best performance ever.

Denmark has also retained the ranking as the least corrupt country for the second consecutive year. People across the globe sent a strong signal to those in power: “it is time to tackle grand corruption”, said Jose Ugaz, Chair, Transparency International, global watchdog on graft and abuses of power.