Switzerland ranked among least corrupt in global index
Switzerland has featured among the top seven countries in the ranking for the past three years. However, there is still room for improvement in reducing corruption, according to Transparency International.
Keystone
For the second year running, Switzerland has been ranked third, tying Finland, Sweden and Singapore, in Transparency International’s (TI) 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index that focuses on public sector corruption.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone SDA/sb
Français
fr
Corruption: la Suisse bien notée, mais peut mieux faire
Denmark came first in the watchdog’s annual indexExternal link, published on Tuesday, as the least corrupt nation followed by New Zealand. The study analyses perceptions by business people and experts of the level of corruption in each country’s public sector.
Somalia was rated the most corruptExternal link, followed by Syria and South Sudan. Since 2012, only 20 countries have significantly improved their scores and 16 have significantly declined.
The United States slid four points lower, dropping out of the top 20 countries for the first time since 2011.
External Content
The 2018 Index also conducted a cross analysis with various democracy indices and found a clear link between having a healthy democracy and successfully fighting public sector corruption. In a press release, the NGO stated that “the continued failure for countries to significantly control corruption is contributing to a crisis of democracy around the world”.
Room to improve
Switzerland has featured among the top seven countries for the past three years. However, there is still room for improvement in reducing corruption, the NGO notes.
“Switzerland has serious shortcomings in key areas of anti-corruption work that are not included in the index, such as money laundering, whistleblower protection and corruption in the private sector and sport,” it said in a statement.External link
In recent years, Swiss banks and other financial intermediaries and enablers have been caught up in large money laundering and corruption scandals around the world, such as those linked to 1MDB in Malaysia or Odebrecht and Petrobas in Brazil.
Transparency International used surveys and evaluations to measure public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories, giving each a score ranging from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very little corruption). The index does not take into account the public’s perception of corruption or the corruption problems encountered in the private sector or political party financing, for example.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
The citizenship obstacle course facing spouses of Swiss Abroad
Thieves steal precious metals from Swiss watchmaker
This content was published on
Thieves raided the factory of the Swiss watch supplier Werthanor in Le Locle in northeastern Switzerland on Thursday morning. They fled across the border to France with precious metals.
Swiss court confirms guilty verdicts against Hells Angels and Bandidos bikers
This content was published on
Bern's High Court on Thursday confirmed guilty verdicts against six Hells Angels and Bandidos bikers involved in a violent clash outside the Swiss capital in 2019.
China rejects report on Tibetans and Uyghurs in Switzerland
This content was published on
The Chinese foreign ministry on Thursday rejected a Swiss government report suggesting that China has been cracking down on Tibetans and Uighurs living in Switzerland.
Fleur Jaeggy wins 2025 Grand Prix for Swiss Literature award
This content was published on
Zurich-born writer Fleur Jaeggy is the 2025 winner of the Grand Prix for Swiss Literature, the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) announced on Thursday.
USAID funding: Swiss aid groups urge foreign minister to act
This content was published on
Swiss aid agencies and churches have urged Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis to take action following the freeze to funds disbursed by USAID.
Switzerland to clamp down on foreign visitors’ unpaid parking fines
This content was published on
The Swiss government has agreed to crack down on parking fines and other driving-related penalties handed out to foreign visitors that go unpaid.
Streaming continues to drive Swiss music market growth
This content was published on
The Swiss music market generated sales of CHF249 million ($274 million) in 2024, up 7% on the previous year, with streaming driving most of the growth.
Migros sells Hotelplan tour operator to Germany’s Dertour
This content was published on
The Swiss retailer Migros is selling most of the Hotelplan Group to the German tour operator Dertour. Meanwhile the Hotelplan subsidiary Interhome has been sold to Hometogo.
This content was published on
The flu epidemic in Switzerland is easing. The number of reported cases fell last week, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). But the wave may not yet have reached its peak.
Swiss plans for whistleblowers fall short, critics say
This content was published on
Swiss government plans to update laws on whistleblowers will fail to provide sufficient protection for employees who reveal corporate wrongdoing.
Geneva expenses scandal sparks calls for more transparency
This content was published on
Members of the Geneva city council are under fire for claiming exorbitant amounts for expenses, such as champagne, taxis and telephone bills.
Credit Suisse found lacking in fight against money laundering
This content was published on
Swiss bank Credit Suisse has failed to meet its obligations to prevent money laundering, says Switzerland’s financial supervisory authority.
This content was published on
The Swiss authorities are evaluating a request for legal assistance from Brazilian prosecutors investigating allegations of Olympic Games bribery.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.