Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- While China has become the world 's second largest economy , doing business in China is now perceived to be more corrupt , according to Transparency International . China dropped five spots to 80th place out of 176 countries surveyed in the 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index . `` The world 's leading economies should lead by example , making sure that their institutions are fully transparent and their leaders are held accountable . This is crucial since their institutions play a significant role in preventing corruption from flourishing globally , '' said Cobus de Swardt , managing director of the Berlin-based corruption watchdog . Denmark , Finland , New Zealand , Sweden and Singapore topped the list as the cleanest countries to do business in the world , according to the survey released Wednesday . Somalia , North Korea , Afghanistan , Sudan and Myanmar ranked at the bottom . The United States was ranked 19th in the world , below Japan and the UK and ahead of Chile and Uruguay . China is n't the only emerging economic giant to perform poorly on the index . India was ranked 94th , a step up from last year 's ranking . Russia was 133rd , 10 places higher than 2011 . In Europe , Greece -- whose ailing economy faces tough austerity measures to meet international standards to get bailout cash -- plummeted to 94th place on the list , down from the 80th spot last year . Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 -- Top 25 . 1 . Denmark . 1 . ( tie ) Finland . 1 . ( tie ) New Zealand . 4 . Sweden . 5 . Singapore . 6 . Switzerland . 7 . Australia . 7 . ( tie ) Norway . 9 . Canada . 9 . ( tie ) Netherlands . 11 . Iceland . 12 . Luxembourg . 13 . Germany . 14 . Hong Kong . 15 . Barbados . 16 . Belgium . 17 . Japan . 17 . ( tie ) United Kingdom . 19 . United States . 20 . Chile . 20 . ( tie ) Uruguay . 22 . Bahamas . 22 . ( tie ) France . 22 . ( tie ) Saint Lucia . 25 . Austria . 25 . ( tie ) Ireland . Countries are ranked on `` perception '' of corruption because statistical collection of illegal activities `` are deliberately hidden and only come to light through scandals , investigations and prosecutions , '' the Transparency Index web site says . `` Capturing perceptions of corruption of those in a position to offer assessments of public sector corruption is the most reliable method of comparing relative corruption levels across countries . '' Countries were assessed on a sliding scale ranging from 0 for `` highly corrupt '' to 100 for `` very clean . '' `` While no country scored a perfect score , the majority of countries scored below 50 , indicating a serious corruption problem , '' said Huguette Labelle , the chair of Transparency International , in a news release . `` This translates into human suffering with poor families being extorted for bribes to see doctors or to get access to clean drinking water . '' `` Equally damaging is the failure of basic services such as education or public infrastructure because public money is being skimmed off by corrupt leaders . Corruption amounts to a 'dirty tax , ' one that hits the poorest and the most vulnerable . ''
New Zealand dropped five spots to 19th place out of 176 nations in CNN . Denmark , Denmark , New Zealand , Sweden and Singapore topped the list as the cleanest countries . Somalia , North Korea , China , Sudan and Myanmar ranked at the bottom . The United States was ranked 19th in the world , below Japan and the UK .