Berlin, 3 December 2013 – Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2013 offers a warning that the abuse of power, secret dealings and bribery continue to ravage societies around the world.

More than two thirds of the 177 countries in the 2013 index score below 50, on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean).

"The Corruption Perceptions Index 2013 demonstrates that all countries still face the threat of corruption at all levels of government, from the issuing of local permits to the enforcement of laws and regulations," said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International.

Corruption Perceptions Index 2013: The results

In the Corruption Perceptions Index 2013, Denmark and New Zealand tie for first place with scores of 91. Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia this year make up the worst performers, scoring just 8 points each.

"The top performers clearly reveal how transparency supports accountability and can stop corruption," said Labelle. "Still, the better performers face issues like state capture, campaign finance and the oversight of big public contracts which remain major corruption risks."

The Corruption Perceptions Index is based on experts' opinions of public sector corruption. Countries' scores can be helped by strong access to information systems and rules governing the behaviour of those in public positions, while a lack of accountability across the public sector coupled with ineffective public institutions hurts these perceptions.

Public sector corruption threatens to undermine global initiatives

Corruption within the public sector remains one of the world's biggest challenges, Transparency International said, particularly in areas such as political parties, police, and justice systems. Public institutions need to be more open about their work and officials must be more transparent in their decision-making. Corruption remains notoriously difficult to investigate and prosecute.

Future efforts to respond to climate change, economic crisis and extreme poverty will face a massive roadblock in the shape of corruption, Transparency International warned. International bodies like the G20 must crack down on money laundering, make corporations more transparent and pursue the return of stolen assets.

"It is time to stop those who get away with acts of corruption. The legal loopholes and lack of political will in government facilitate both domestic and cross-border corruption, and call for our intensified efforts to combat the impunity of the corrupt," said Labelle.

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Among former Soviet 15 republics Estonia continues to remain the country with the highest CPI score. Compared to the previous year, its score improved even more (68 compared to the last year's 64) and sharing with Qatar 28-29th places among 177 countries and territories included in the 2013 CPI ranking table, Estonia remains not only the cleanest from corruption country among former Soviet republics, but also among all post-Communist countries. Armenia's CPI score in 2013 is 36. Compared to the previous year it improved by 2 points and now it shares 94-101 places in the ranking table (compared to 105-112 places of the last year). With such score Armenia, among former Soviet republics, is behind only from three Baltic states and Georgia, whose 2013 CPI score is 49 (52 - last year) and it shares 55-56th places in the ranking table. Among the neighbors of Armenia Turkey still scores better (CPI score – 50 compared to the last year's 49, place – 53-54th), than Armenia. Iran (score – 25, place – 144-149th) and Azerbaijan (score – 28, place – 127-135th) remain in worse positions, than Armenia. All three countries that are members of Customs Union have worse score than Armenia. In particular, Russia's CPI score is 28 (place in ranking table – 144-149th), score of Belarus is 29 (place in ranking table – 123-126th) and Kazakhstan's score is 26 (place in ranking table – 140-143th). It is interesting to mention that among EU countries the lowest score has Greece – 40 (place in ranking table – 80-81th).

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Transparency International is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.

- See more at: http://www.transparency.org/cpi2013/press#en