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UN - Afghans forced to pay billions in bribes
Half of all Afghan adults paid at least one bribe to a public official over the course of a year to cut through red tape or get help with poor service, the U.N. said Tuesday in a report that documents the extraordinary depth of corruption in Afghanistan.
Afghans paid nearly $2.5 billion (euro1.7 billion) in bribes–worth almost a quarter of the country's GDP–in the 12-month period ending last autumn.
The average bribe cost $160–a hefty sum in a country with a per capita income of nearly $500, according to the report, based on interviews with thousands of people across Afghanistan.
Most of those surveyed said they could not expect a single public service without paying favors. Many felt it was "normal" to pay extra for services, better treatment or avoiding fines.