Iceland ranks #6 of 159 countries included in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2006, with a score of 9.2. Finland tops the list with 9.4  and all the Nordic countries show good performance, ranking from #1 to #10, reflecting a professional and transparent public administration, combined with strong civil society and civic culture.

More than two-thirds of the 180 nations surveyed in Transparency International’s 2005 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) scored less than 5 out of a clean score of 10, indicating serious levels of corruption in a majority of the countries surveyed.

“Corruption is a major cause of poverty as well as a barrier to overcoming it,” said Transparency International Chairman Peter Eigen. “The two scourges feed off each other, locking their populations in a cycle of misery. Corruption must be vigorously addressed if aid is to make a real difference in freeing people from poverty.”

The TI Corruption Perceptions Index is a composite survey, reflecting the perceptions of business people and country analysts, both resident and non-resident. It draws on 16 different polls from 10 independent institutions.

For the full report and the CPI 2006 table and world map please visit the Transparency International website