Belgium maintains its position in the ranking that estimates corruption, sharing its position with Japan and Uruguay News

Every year, the NGO assesses the state of corruption in the public sector. Based on the expert assessment, 180 countries were given a score ranging from 0 (very corrupt) to 100 (free from corruption).

Belgium ranks sixteenth on the list with 73 points, which is the same result our country achieved in 2021 and 2022. Just like Japan and the South American country Uruguay. Belgium performs better than Iceland (72nd), Austria and France (both 71st). Our country must be ahead of other neighboring countries, the Netherlands (79th), Germany and Luxembourg (both 78th).

At the top of the list is Denmark with 90 points, Finland (87), New Zealand (85), Norway (84), and Singapore (83). At the bottom of the list of 180 countries are Somalia (11), Venezuela (13), Syria (13), and South Sudan (13), which are countries in crisis. Hungary (42) ranks worst among European Union countries. That country fell to 76th in the world rankings under Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The NGO said that more than two-thirds of the countries on the list scored below 50 out of 100, which strongly suggests they have serious corruption problems. The global average is only 43 degrees. It says that the vast majority of countries have made no progress or have deteriorated in recent years. “Twenty-three countries fell to their lowest scores on record this year.”

Transparency International says about corruption in European Union countries: “Weak accountability and political corruption undermine the rule of law in a region where people lose confidence in institutions.” “In the most troubling cases, small interest groups have significant control over political decision-making. In other cases, governments have targeted journalists, whistleblowers and other watchdogs.