Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters
There are some countries that keep much of the government data hidden from public, while there are others that provide much easier access.
Let's take a look at 24 most open economies in the world.
Source: Open Knowledge Foundation
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Mike Segar/Reuters
United States
Government budget score: 80
Government spending score: 90
Company register score: 90
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 940
Overall rank in openness: 1
United States, the biggest economy in the world, scores 80 on openness of government budget.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Jonathan Bainbridge/Reuters
United Kingdom
Government budget score: 90
Government spending score: 80
Company register score: 10
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 870
Overall rank in openness: 2
United Kingdom, one of the biggest financial centres in the world, scores 10 on openness of company register.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Sari Gustafsson/Lehtikuva/Reuters
Denmark
Government budget score: 90
Government spending score: 40
Company register score: 90
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 835
Overall rank in openness: 3
Denmark, one of the richest countries in the world, scores 40 on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Marit Hommedal/Scanpix/Reuters
Norway
Government budget score: 90
Government spending score: 20
Company register score: 90
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 755
Overall rank in openness: 4
Norway, which has the richest sovereign wealth fund in the world, scores 20 on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Michael Kooren/Reuters
The Netherlands
Government budget score: 90
Government spending score: 20
Company register score: 60
National statistics score: 70
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 740
Overall rank in openness: 5
The Netherlands, one of the most liberal countries in the world, scores 20 on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva/Reuters
Finland
Government budget score: 60
Government spending score: 50
Company register score: 70
National statistics score: 80
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 700
Overall rank in openness: 6
Finland, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, scores 60 on openness of government budget.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters
Sweden
Government budget score: 90
Government spending score: 80
Company register score: 70
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 670
Overall rank in openness: 7
Sweden, one of the richest countries in the world, scores 90 on openness of government budget.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters
New Zealand
Government budget score: 90
Government spending score: 90
Company register score: 90
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 660
Overall rank in openness: 8
New Zealand, one of the major tourist destinations in the world, scores 90 on openness of government budget.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Daniel Munoz/Reuters
Australia
Government budget score: 70
Government spending score: 90
Company register score: 60
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 660
Overall rank in openness: 9
Australia, a country that is a major exporter of minerals, scores 70 on openness of government budget.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Mathieu Belanger/Reuters
Canada
Government budget score: 90
Government spending score: 20
Company register score: 60
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 590
Overall rank in openness: 10
Canada, a country that is a major exporter, scores 20 on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Stoyan Nenov/Reuters
Iceland
Government budget score: 60
Government spending score: 20
Company register score: 60
National statistics score: 60
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 560
Overall rank in openness: 11
Iceland, a country that was badly hit by the 2008 global economic crisis, scores 20 on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Moldova
Government budget score: 60
Government spending score: 70
Company register score: 80
National statistics score: 70
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 530
Overall rank in openness: 12
Moldova, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, scores 60 on openness of government budget.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Stringer/Reuters
Bulgaria
Government budget score: 80
Government spending score: 80
Company register score: 60
National statistics score: 80
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 520
Overall rank in openness: 13
Bulgaria, a country located in Southeastern Europe, scores 80 on openness of government budget.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Darrin Zammit Lupi/Reuters
Malta
Government budget score: 80
Government spending score: 80
Company register score: 60
National statistics score: 60
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 515
Overall rank in openness: 14
Malta, a southern European country, scores 80 on openness of government budget.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters
Italy
Government budget score: 90
Government spending score: 80
Company register score: 50
National statistics score: 60
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 515
Overall rank in openness: 15
Italy, a country that has high standard of living, scores 90 on openness of government budget.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters
France
Government budget score: 80
Government spending score: 20
Company register score: 60
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 510
Overall rank in openness: 16
France, one of the richest countries in the world, scores 20 on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Herwig Prammer/Reuters
Austria
Government budget score: 80
Government spending score: 60
Company register score: 50
National statistics score: 80
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 505
Overall rank in openness: 17
Austria, one of the richest countries in the world, scores 80 on openness of national statistics.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Jose Manuel/Reuters
Portugal
Government budget score: 60
Government spending score: 50
Company register score: 70
National statistics score: 80
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 495
Overall rank in openness: 18
Portugal, which has high standard of living, scores 50 on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Srdjan Zivulovic/Reuters
Slovenia
Government budget score: 90
Government spending score: 90
Company register score: 70
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 485
Overall rank in openness: 19
Slovenia, located in southern Central Europe, scores 90 on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Denis Balibouse/Reuters
Switzerland
Government budget score: 50
Government spending score: 80
Company register score: 70
National statistics score: 80
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 480
Overall rank in openness: 20
Switzerland, one of the richest countries in the world, scores 90 on openness of government budget.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Nir Elias/Reuters
Israel
Government budget score: 80
Government spending score: 10
Company register score: 60
National statistics score: 80
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 475
Overall rank in openness: 21
Israel, one of the top technological hubs in the world, scores 10 on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: David W Cerny/Reuters
The Czech Republic
Government budget score: 70
Government spending score: 20
Company register score: 70
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 465
Overall rank in openness: 22
The Czech Republic, which was hit badly by the global economic crisis, scores 20 on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Andrea Comas/Reuters
Spain
Government budget score: 70
Government spending score: 00
Company register score: 60
National statistics score: 90
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 460
Overall rank in openness: 23
Spain, which was hit badly by the global economic crisis, scores zero on openness of government spending.
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24 economies that are most open in the world
Photographs: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters
Ireland
Government budget score: 60
Government spending score: 80
Company register score: 60
National statistics score: 80
Total overall openness score includes such factors as transportation, legislation and elections: 460
Overall rank in openness: 24
Ireland, which has high standard of living, scores 80 on openness of government spending.
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