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Denmark ranked as the least corrupt country, but which is the most corrupt?

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Following the release of the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index 2014, Denmark has been named as the least corrupt and fair country.

Other countries which feature in the top four are also Scandinavian with Norway (2nd), Sweden (3rd) and Finland (4th).

The report, which ranks 99 countries around the world, scores key factors in each country to establish an overall score for opportunity and equity – which identifies the countries with the highest and lowest levels of corruption. 47 indicators are used when determining the overall score for each country which are arranged into 9 themes, including constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, fundamental rights and the justice system.

The remainder of the top ten include Netherlands, New Zealand, Austria, Australia, Germany and Singapore.

Slightly more surprising is the UK featuring at 12th and the United States only at 19th – with its perceived failings in the criminal justice system significantly contributing to a relatively low score.

Most corrupt nations

Of other major superpowers, China’s position of 76th is due to the low scores for the constraints of government powers and also fundamental rights of the people. Russia (80th), is deemed to be two places better than Iran (82nd) and only four above Sierra Leone (84).

With African and South American countries occupying the majority of the lower places, the report highlights the areas where each country could improve.

Zimbabwe (97th), Afghanistan (98th) and Venezuela (99th) prop up the table.

Below is the ranking of the 99 countries.

1 Denmark

21 Chile

41 Tunisia

61 Colombia

81 Madagascar

2 Norway

22 Poland

42 Brazil

62 Peru

82 Iran

3 Sweden

23 Czech Republic

43 Senegal

63 Albania

83 Guatemala

4 Finland

24 Spain

44 Bulgaria

64 El Salvador

84 Sierra Leone

5 Netherlands

25 Botswana

45 Jamaica

65 Vietnam

85 Nicaragua

6 New Zealand

26 Portugal

46 Indonesia

66 India

86 Kenya

7 Austria

27 United Arab Emirates

47 Thailand

67 Dominican Republic

87 Liberia

8 Australia

28 Slovenia

48 Sri Lanka

68 Ukraine

88 Ethiopia

9 Germany

29 Italy

49 Lebanon

69 Tanzania

89 Myanmar

10 Singapore

30 Hungary

50 Belarus

70 Zambia

90 Uganda

11 Canada

31 Georgia

51 Mongolia

71 Kazakhstan

91 Cambodia

12 Japan

32 Greece

52 Morocco

72 Cote d'Ivoire

92 Bangladesh

13 United Kingdom

33 Romania

53 Burkina Faso

73 Uzbekistan

93 Nigeria

14 Republic of Korea

34 Macedonia, FYR

54 Serbia

74 Egypt

94 Bolivia

15 Estonia

35 Malaysia

55 Malawi

75 Moldova

95 Cameroon

16 Hong Kong SAR, China

36 Croatia

56 Panama

76 China

96 Pakistan

17 Belgium

37 Ghana

57 Nepal

77 Ecuador

97 Zimbabwe

18 France

38 Jordan

58 Argentina

78 Kyrgyzstan

98 Afghanistan

19 United States

39 Bosnia & Herzegovina

59 Turkey

79 Mexico

99 Venezuela

20 Uruguay

40 South Africa

60 Philippines

80 Russia

 

 To see the full rankings, and for an interactive tool, please visit the WJP Rule of Law Index 2014 website.