Syria’s ranking in the latest edition of the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) published by Transparency International has improved for the first time in more than five years.
 
The CPI measures “the perceived level of public-sector corruption” in 180 countries around the world and basis its findings on thirteen surveys published by independent institutions. Each country is given a score, between 10 (highly clean) and 0 (highly corrupt).
 
Syria had been steadily falling in the rankings in the previous four years. In the 2009 edition of the CPI, Syria scores better than in 2008 (2.6 instead of 2.1) and sees an improvement in its rankings from 147th worldwide to 126th this year. In the MENA region it also ranks 14th out of 19 countries instead of 16th last year. Lebanon, Libya, Yemen, Iran and Iraq all rank worse. Qatar ranks best, followed by the UAE and Israel. Worldwide New-Zealand ranked first and Somalia last.
 
Syria ranked 70th worldwide in 2005, 93rd in 2006, 138th in 2007 and 147th in 2008.
 
Syria’s Performance in the Corruption Perception Index
 

Source: Transparency International