Solomon Islands rated 111th least corrupt country in the world

Solomon Islands is ranked as the 111th least corrupt country in the world, equal with Kiribati by the anti-corruption group, Transparency International.

Featuring most nations in the region, the index of 180 countries places New Zealand as the World’s least corrupt country just ahead of Denmark but well in front of Australia, which was found to be eight least corrupt.

Papua New Guinea is near the bottom of the list, in 154th place.

Samoa is 56th, while Tonga and Vanuatu climbed the list significantly this year, at 99th and 95th respectively.

Transparency International says following the 2006 riots, Tonga has undergone reforms that seek to grant greater political power to popularly elected officials and its anti-corruption drive has earned the support of local civil society organisations.

It says the political stability and high fiscal freedom helped to improve perceptions of corruption in Vanuatu.

Source: RNZI