Arab region scores slight improvement on 2015 Corruption Perception Index

Transparency International launched the results of the 2015 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) covering 168 countries on a scale from 0 (Very Clean) to 100 (Very Corrupt). Denmark came in the lead with 91 points, while Somalia and North Korea trailed the list with eight points. The global average stood at 42.6 falling down from 43.2 points last year. The average in the Arab region showed a minor improvement scoring 35.4 points, compared to 35 points in 2014, but still fell below the global average. Overall, nine Arab countries improved their scores, while six regressed, and six maintained their scores. Qatar came first with 71 points among the 21 Arab countries that were covered this year, noting that Palestine was not included due to unavailability of required sources. The biggest improvements were recorded in Kuwait with five points followed by Jordan with four points, noting that only seven Arab countries scored higher than the global average.

The CPI is an aggregated index that is based on information compiled from various sources to provide an assessment of how people view corruption in the public sector of a certain country. It is published by Transparency International since 1995. Despite serious criticism, the CPI survived, and is widely credited for bringing increased global attention to the issue of corruption and acting as a catalyst for action against it. Please see below a detailed table on the situation of each Arab country in 2015 and 2014. For more information on the 2015 CPI, please visit http://www.transparency.org/cpi2015/results.