101 countries ranked according to perceptions of corruption in business,
government
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Endemic corruption is one of
the greatest impediments to stability and growth for many poor countries that
might otherwise be looking to current international trends -- the spread of
information technology, debt forgiveness for developing nations, economic
globalization -- with great hope. The uncertainty posed by institutional
corruption makes tapping into those trends difficult, curtailing much-needed
foreign investment and aid opportunities.
But far more costly is the effect of corruption on the residents in these
countries. It diminishes their faith in the country’s leadership. It reduces
their incentive to work hard, making entrepreneurial efforts and civic
engagement less likely. Perhaps most fundamentally, it robs them of the sense
that they can control their own destinies.
With the launch of the Gallup World Poll, respondents in over 100 nations
around the globe are being asked for their opinions in a variety of areas --
but perhaps none is more important than their likelihood to feel corruption
is common in their countries. The 2006 Gallup Corruption Index is calculated
from the responses in 101 countries to two simple questions:
-- Is corruption widespread throughout the government in
your country?
-- Is corruption widespread within businesses located in
your country?
The resulting scores range from 12 in Finland, which is something of a
model society in terms of the trust its residents place in their basic
institutions, to 94 in the former Soviet Republic of Lithuania.
Index Scores Related to Leadership Approval, Satisfaction With Freedom
Comparing confidence and optimism levels in countries that rank high on
the list with those that rank close to the bottom reveals striking
differences. Among the top 10 countries on the list, a majority of residents,
55%, say they have confidence in the country’s leadership; among the bottom
10 countries the figure is about one-third (32%). Across the top 10
countries, 84% of residents say people in their countries are able to get
ahead by working hard; in the bottom 10 countries that number drops to 58%.
There is also a strong connection between index scores and respondents’
sense of their personal freedom. Ninety-two percent of residents in the top
10 countries say they are satisfied with their freedom to choose what to do
with their lives, compared to just 65% of those in the bottom 10 countries on
the list.
The countries included in this year’s index are ranked from the lowest
score, indicating the population least likely to perceive corruption as
widespread, to the highest.
THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION 2006 Gallup Corruption Index
Top 9 Most Perceived Corrupt Nations (Rank-Country-Index Score)
93 Morocco 90
Romania 90
Russia 90
Ukraine 90
Cameroon 90
98 Thailand 91
99 Lebanon 93
Poland 93
101 Lithuania 94
Top 10 Least Perceived Corrupt Nations (Rank-Country-Index Score)
1 Finland 12
2 Denmark 21
New Zealand 21
4 Singapore 22
5 Saudi Arabia 25
6 United Kingdom 36
Norway 36
Switzerland 36
9 Australia 37
10 Sweden 39
Complete list: http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=25612
Survey Methods
Results are based on interviews with randomly selected national samples
of approximately 1,000 adults who are permanent residents in the 101 nations
surveyed in 2005 and 2006. For results based on these samples, one can say
with 95% confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other
random effects is +/-3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error,
question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can
introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
Scores are derived from the ratio of affirmative to negative responses in
each country (with "don’t know" responses or refusals removed from the
analysis).
About Gallup
The Gallup Organization has studied human nature and behavior for more
than 70 years. Gallup employs many of the world’s leading scientists in
management, economics, psychology, and sociology. Gallup performance
management systems help organizations boost organic growth by increasing
customer engagement and maximizing employee productivity through measurement
tools, coursework, and strategic advisory services. Gallup’s 2,000
professionals deliver services at client organizations, through the Web, at
Gallup University’s campuses, and in 40 offices around the world.
About The Gallup World Poll
In the largest undertaking of its kind, The Gallup Organization is
measuring the well-being and overall status of the world’s citizens for the
next 100 years. Continually polling 95% of the Earth’s adult population, the
Gallup World Poll provides access to the voices, hearts, and minds of
citizens in more than 130 countries and territories. Asking the same core
questions across nations over time enables leaders to compare data and
identify emerging trends. All polling is representative of the entire
country.
Gallup(R) is a trademark of The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
