Corruption index: Philippines worsens, Vietnam improves the most

The Philippines dropped 14 spots on the ranking of the world’s most corrupt countries in the newly released Corruption Perception Index 2019 by Transparency International. The country is now on rank 113 out of 180 countries.
In turn, Vietnam improved by 21 spots to rank 96, overtaking both Thailand (dropped two ranks to 101) and the Philippines.
The least corrupt nation in Southeast Asia remains Singapore, followed by Brunei. On the lower end, Cambodia keeps the title as most corrupt nation in the region, placed on rank 162.
With regards to Asia Pacific, Transparency International stated that despite the presence of high performers like New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan, the region “has not witnessed substantial progress in anticorruption efforts or results.”
High corruption shows serious challenges for countries in the region
In addition, low performers like Cambodia continue to highlight serious challenges in the region. While often seen as an engine of the global economy, in terms of political integrity and governance, the region performs only marginally better than the global average.

Many countries see economic openness as a way forward, however, governments across the region, from China to Cambodia to Vietnam, continue to restrict participation in public affairs, silence dissenting voices and keep decision-making out of public scrutiny.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that vibrant economic powers like China, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and others continue to struggle to tackle corruption.
Even in democracies, such as Australia and India, unfair and opaque political financing and undue influence in decision making and lobbying by powerful corporate interest groups, result in stagnation or decline in control of corruption, the report noted.
Corruption Perception Index 2019:
Current Ranking and change from 2018
Singapore 4 -1
Brunei 35 -4
Malaysia 51 +10
Indonesia 85 +4
Vietnam 96 +21
Thailand 101 -2
Philippines 113 -14
Myanmar 130 +2
Laos 130 +2
Cambodia 162 -1
The Philippines dropped 14 spots on the ranking of the world’s most corrupt countries in the newly released Corruption Perception Index 2019 by Transparency International. The country is now on rank 113 out of 180 countries. In turn, Vietnam improved by 21 spots to rank 96, overtaking both Thailand (dropped two ranks to 101) and the Philippines. The least corrupt nation in Southeast Asia remains Singapore, followed by Brunei. On the lower end, Cambodia keeps the title as most corrupt nation in the region, placed on rank 162. With regards to Asia Pacific, Transparency International stated that despite the presence...

The Philippines dropped 14 spots on the ranking of the world’s most corrupt countries in the newly released Corruption Perception Index 2019 by Transparency International. The country is now on rank 113 out of 180 countries.
In turn, Vietnam improved by 21 spots to rank 96, overtaking both Thailand (dropped two ranks to 101) and the Philippines.
The least corrupt nation in Southeast Asia remains Singapore, followed by Brunei. On the lower end, Cambodia keeps the title as most corrupt nation in the region, placed on rank 162.
With regards to Asia Pacific, Transparency International stated that despite the presence of high performers like New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan, the region “has not witnessed substantial progress in anticorruption efforts or results.”
High corruption shows serious challenges for countries in the region
In addition, low performers like Cambodia continue to highlight serious challenges in the region. While often seen as an engine of the global economy, in terms of political integrity and governance, the region performs only marginally better than the global average.

Many countries see economic openness as a way forward, however, governments across the region, from China to Cambodia to Vietnam, continue to restrict participation in public affairs, silence dissenting voices and keep decision-making out of public scrutiny.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that vibrant economic powers like China, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and others continue to struggle to tackle corruption.
Even in democracies, such as Australia and India, unfair and opaque political financing and undue influence in decision making and lobbying by powerful corporate interest groups, result in stagnation or decline in control of corruption, the report noted.
Corruption Perception Index 2019:
Current Ranking and change from 2018
Singapore 4 -1
Brunei 35 -4
Malaysia 51 +10
Indonesia 85 +4
Vietnam 96 +21
Thailand 101 -2
Philippines 113 -14
Myanmar 130 +2
Laos 130 +2
Cambodia 162 -1