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How does Sub-Saharan Africa compare with other regions based on perceived public-sector corruption?

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to face significant challenges with public sector corruption, as indicated by the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by Transparency International. The region's average score remains the lowest globally, dropping to 32 on a scale where zero signifies high corruption and 100 represents very clean. This reflects a persistent issue across most countries in the region, with 90% of them scoring below 50.

The situation in Sub-Saharan Africa is marked by a complex interplay between corruption and conflict, which often exacerbate each other. Countries like the Central African Republic, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Somalia not only rank among the lowest in the CPI but are also among the ten least peaceful countries globally according to the Global Peace Index. This correlation highlights how corruption can fuel conflict, which in turn fosters more corruption.

While Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest average, the global average score remains unchanged over a decade at around 43. This indicates that corruption is a widespread issue, affecting various regions to different extents.

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