We can put our hands on our hearts and claim that, as Irish people, we are squeaky clean and honest, or at least that's what a World Bank report prepared for this week's meeting of the bank in Hong Kong tells us.

With an honesty rating of 8.28 out of 10, corporate Ireland is apparently more honest that the dull and stolid Germans with a rating of 8.23, the pious British with 8.22 and even the "Good mornin', how are you; missing you already" Americans who had a rating of of 7.61.

Who are the least corrupt? The dour Danes are the swots of the class with a near perfect honesty rating of 9.94, followed by the Finns and Swedes (must be something to do with the climate and the long winter nights).

And the most corrupt? Well steer clear of Nigeria, Bolivia and Colombia and don't go too close to Russia, Pakistan or Mexico is the message from the World Bank.