Latvia shows better results in Corruption Perception Index

RIGA - Last year tolerance to corruption kept declining in Latvia, still, other countries have demonstrated a better progress in this area, according to the latest Corruption Perception Index published by Transparency International on Wednesday.

Latvia compared to the previous years has scored the highest result so far – 57 points out of 100, which is by two points more than last year. It means that tolerance to corruption has declined in the past year. Latvia scored 55 points in 2014, 53 points in 2013, and 49 points in 2012.

However, in the overall rating, Latvia has seen a drop by four positions – from the 40th to the 44th position, sharing this place with Georgia.

Estonia has been ranked 22nd with 70 points, and Lithuania ranked 38th with 59 points in the rating.

The highest ranking countries are Denmark and New Zealand with 90 points, followed by Finland with 89 points, while at the bottom of the list is Somalia, ranking 176th with just ten points.

The average score in the EU this year is 65 points.

Latvian pro-transparency NGO Delna said that the Baltic states have the best scores among former Soviet republics. Russia this year has dropped by 12 positions to the 131st position with a score of 29.

Delna also said that the Corruption Perception Index is the most often used corruption indicator in the world. Transparency International has been drawing the Corruption Perception Index since 1995, and Latvia has been included in the index in 1998.

According to Latvia’s guidelines for corruption prevention and combating for 2015-2020, Latvia in 2017 should achieve a score of 60 points, and in 2020 the score should reach 70 points.