World's least corrupt nations; India ranked 95

Corruption is a major cause of concern in developing and developed nations. In some nations it is highly cancerous and poses a threat to overall economic growth.

Last year, public outcry at corruption, impunity and economic instability sent shockwaves around the world. Transparency International, a global organisation that works against corruption, comes out with a Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) every year says, "No region or country in the world is immune to the damages of corruption".

The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries and territories according to their perceived levels of public sector corruption. It is an aggregate indicator that combines different sources of information about corruption, making it possible to compare countries.

A country's score is measured on a scale of 0 - 10, where 0 means that a country is perceived as highly corrupt and 10 means that a country is perceived as very clean.

Instead of harping on the bad, we bring you world's least corrupt nations who have managed to fight all the odd.

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Country: India
Ranking: 95
Score: 3.1

India doesn't feature on the top 25 list of least nations in the world, nor is it in bottom 25. This certainly brings about a ray of hope.

The Indian government has been on its toes for the past few months. Not only has it been rocked by scams of gigantic proportions, but has also seen the rise of an anti-corruption movement. And there is a rising anger against the ruling party – UPA. And, the high prevalence of corruption has forced civil society to take stern action.

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Country: New Zealand
Ranking: 1
Score: 9.5

Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialised, free market economy that can compete globally.

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Country: Denmark
Raking: 2
Score: 9.4

This modern market economy features a high-tech agricultural sector, state-of-the-art industry with world-leading firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping and renewable energy, and a high dependence on foreign trade.

Denmark is a member of the European Union (EU) and it conforms to EU standards on almost all issues. The Danish economy is characterised by extensive government welfare measures and an equitable distribution of income.

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Country: Finland
Raking: 2
Score: 9.4

Finland has transformed its economy in a matter of decades. Today, it is one of the richest countries and most stable societies in the world. In the 1950s the Finnish economy was still largely based on primary production and an agrarian workforce.

Now, Finland is leading or near the top of most international comparisons in terms of growth and development in the economic, technological and social spheres.

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Country: Sweden
Ranking: 4
Score: 9.3

The Swedish economy performs remarkably well in regulatory efficiency, with open-market policies that sustain flexibility, competitiveness, and large flows of trade and investment.

The transparent and efficient regulatory and legal environment encourages robust entrepreneurial activity. Also, the judicial system provides strong protection for property rights.

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Country: Singapore
Raking: 5
Score: 9.2

Singapore's economy is firmly sustained with strong protection of property rights and effective enforcement of anti-corruption laws. The government is very efficient, with competitive tax rates and low government expenditures. The regulatory environment is flexible and transparent, encouraging vibrant commercial activity.

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Country: Norway
Raking: 6
Score: 9

The Norwegian economy is diversified and modern. It benefits from high levels of flexibility and institutional strengths, which provides strong protection of property rights and an efficient legal framework.

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Country: Netherlands
Raking: 7
Score: 8.9

Here, the economy benefits from a special emphasis on the rule of law and an efficient legal framework. The judicial system, independent and free of corruption, provides strong protection for property rights. It is also open to global trade and investment in a well established manner.

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Country: Australia
Raking: 8
Score: 8.8

The Australian economy is well supported by excellent protection of property rights and an independent judiciary that enforces anti-corruption measures effectively.

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Country: Switzerland
Raking: 8
Score: 8.8

The economy supports well-secured property rights, promotes entrepreneurship and productivity growth. A tradition of minimum tolerance for corruption has been well institutionalised in an efficient legal framework. The judicial system, independent of political influence, ensures effective and transparent enforcement of commercial contracts.

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Country: Canada
Ranking: 10
Score: 8.7

Canada and its economy have emerged from the global economic slowdown relatively unscathed. The rule of law is sustained by an effective and independent court system, ensuring protection of property rights and the equitable application of the commercial code.

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Country: Luxemburg
Raking: 11
Score: 8.5

Luxembourg's prudent financial regulations have supported the country's position as a global financial hub. The judiciary, independent of politics and free of corruption, has provided strong protection for property rights. Institutional support for open markets is similarly strong.

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Country: Hong Kong
Ranking: 12
Score: 8.4

Hong Kong has emerged as one of the world's most competitive financial and business centers. The high-quality legal framework, which provides effective protection of property rights and strong support for the rule of law, continues to be the cornerstone of strength for the dynamic city economy.

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Country: Iceland
Ranking: 13
Score: 8.3

The quality of the legal framework remains among the world's highest, providing effective protection of property rights. The rule of law is well maintained, and a strong tradition of minimum tolerance for corruption is firmly in place.

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Country: Germany
Raking: 14
Score: 8

Germany is one of the world's most powerful and dynamic economies. The foundations for long-term competitiveness and dynamic growth have been deeply rooted in the high quality of the judicial regime, which upholds a strong rule of law.

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Country: Japan
Ranking: 14
Sore: 8

The Japanese economy benefits from good level of economic freedom in all areas. The foundations of economic freedom are solidly in place, supported by an effective judicial framework, a very low level of inflation, and the almost complete absence of corruption.

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Country: Austria
Raking: 16
Score: 7.8

The Austrian economy has benefited greatly in the past from strong commercial relations, especially in the banking and insurance sectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe, but these sectors have been vulnerable to recent international financial instabilities, and some of Austria's largest banks have required government support.

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Country: Barbados
Ranking: 16
Score: 7.8

Barbados is one of the Caribbean region's most prosperous economies. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises.

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Country: United Kingdom
Ranking: 16
Score: 7.8

UK is the world's 2nd largest services exporter and the world's 6th largest trading nation. World Bank rated the UK 2nd in the EU and 7th in the world on its "Ease of Doing Business" ranking.

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Country: Belgium
Ranking: 19
Score: 7.5

This modern, open, and private-enterprise-based economy has capitalised on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base.

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Country: Ireland
Ranking: 19
Score: 7.5

Ireland's economy began to grow rapidly in the 1990s, fuelled by foreign investment. This attracted a wave of incomers to a country where, traditionally, mass emigration had been the norm.

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Country: Bahamas
Ranking: 21
Score: 7.3

The foundations of economic freedom remain relatively sound, with freedom from corruption and property rights scoring above world averages.

However, further improvements in these two areas will be critical to improving institutional efficiency. The country's overall regulatory system is conducive to entrepreneurial activity, and there are no individual or corporate income taxes, but economic dynamism remains constrained by relatively closed markets.

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Country: Chile
Ranking: 22
Score: 7.2

Chile has a market-oriented economy characterised by a high level of foreign trade and a reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America.

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Country: Qatar
Ranking: 22
Score: 7.2

The foundations of economic freedom are relatively solid. With a well-functioning legal framework in place, the level of corruption is much lower than the world average. Qatar has promoted a flexible regulatory system for business ventures.

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Country: United Sates
Ranking: 24
Score: 7.1

Although the foundations of economic freedom remain strong, recent government interventions have eroded limits on government, and public spending by all levels of government now exceeds one-third of total domestic output.

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Country: France
Raking: 25
Score: 7

The French economy remains diversified and relatively resilient, with entrepreneurial activity generally facilitated by such institutional strengths as strong protection of property rights and a fairly efficient regulatory framework. Various reform measures have been adopted to increase the economy's competitiveness and flexibility, but overall progress has been marginal.

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Country: Saint Lucia
Ranking: 25
Score: 7

The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, with a surge in foreign direct investment in 2006, attributed to the construction of several tourism projects.

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Country: Uruguay
Ranking: 25
Score: 7

Uruguay has been on an upward trend in the Index over the past five years. Notable progress in advancing economic freedom has been accompanied by annual growth rates averaging over 6 percent during the same period.

Overall, the economy performs quite well in maintaining the four pillars of economic freedom and a prudent macroeconomic environment.