World index uncovers corruption in Baltics

Estonia has improved on a worldwide corruption index whilst Latvia and Lithuania lag behind, new figures show.

According to the Transparency International 2013 corruption perception index, Estonia is in 28th position among 177 states. Last year, Estonia was on the 32nd position among 174 states, Public Broadcasting reports.

Estonia had 68 points this year and 64 points last year.

Latvia is in 49th place with 53 points and Lithuania on the 43rd place with 57 points.

Denmark and New Zealand collected the most points, 91 out of 100. Finland and Sweden shared the 3rd place with 89 points.

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. 

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