SDG #16 is to “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”
Within SDG #16 are 12 targets, of which we here focus on Target 16.5:
Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
Target 16.5 has two indicators:
Indicator 16.5.1: Proportion of persons who had at least one contact with a public official and who paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials, during the previous 12 months
Indicator 16.5.2: Proportion of businesses that had at least one contact with a public official and that paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials during the previous 12 months
Many countries across the Middle East and North Africa don’t have data for indicator 16.5.1, nor does China. Among other countries with data as of 2021, the highest prevalence of bribery is in Democratic Republic of Congo. 80% of Congolese reported paying a bribe, or were asked to, by a public official.
Much less countries have reported data for bribery experienced by businesses at the hands of government. Among countries with data, Iraq has the highest prevalence. The 2021 worldwide estimate for businesses who’ve paid a bribe, or were asked to in the past year was 15%.