Botswana Tops Africa In Anti-Corruption Stakes Once Again

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

17 October 2003

The Southern African state of Botswana has once again achieved an impressive score in Transparency International's 2003 Corruption Perceptions Index reinforcing the country's position as one of the most politically and economically stable nations on the continent of Africa.

According to the index, which measures the perception that business people and academics have of the extent of corruption amongst a nation's political establishments, Botswana was the only African country to attain a score above five in TI's ranking system, which ranks countries on a scale of one to ten, with the latter representing the 'cleanest' score.

In total, of the 133 countries reviewed in this year's survey, seven out of ten failed to reach a score above five, and half were given ratings of less than three out of ten.

Overall, Botswana was ranked 30th, above more developed countries such as Italy (35th), South Africa (48th), Greece (50th) and Brazil (54th).

The nations with the least perceived corruption were mainly to be found in Northern Europe, with the highest ranked county being Finland. Iceland, Denmark, New Zealand, Singapore and Sweden all attained a score of over nine out of ten. Surprisingly, the United States has slipped down the table to be placed 18th.

Bangladesh appeared the most corrupt nation, according to the survey with Nigeria, Haiti and Paraguay not far behind.

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