Corruption linked to female population 40-44
Comparing Public Sector Corruption Index with Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP across 169 countries, 2025–2025.
- Rank correlation
- +0.76
- Holding size constant
- +0.62
- Countries compared
- 169
- Period
- 2025–2025
What might link these
The relationship between public sector corruption and the proportion of females aged 40-44 per unit of GDP may be influenced by societal factors such as gender roles and economic participation. A careful reader should consider the potential impact of education levels, which could be a likely confounder. The correlation suggests a possible connection, but its underlying causes are unclear.
Why this is not proof of anything
This is a correlation across countries, not an experiment. It cannot show that either indicator causes the other, and both may simply follow a third thing. This correlation could mislead by implying a direct link between corruption and demographics, when in fact other factors like education or economic policies may be driving the relationship.
The second figure above repeats the measurement with national population and income held constant. It is the more conservative number: a relationship that largely disappears there was mostly telling you that larger, richer countries have more of most things.
How this was measured
Both indicators were ranked across every country reporting each, and the two rankings compared — ranks rather than raw values, because a handful of very large countries can otherwise manufacture a relationship on their own. The calculation is arithmetic over figures already published on this site; the commentary above is drafted from the two indicator names and the resulting coefficients.