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Estonia Has the 2nd Lowest Money Laundering Risk in the World

According to the 2018 Basel AML Index, Estonia ranks 2nd lowest risk jurisdiction in the world. The Basel Anti-Money Laundering Index is an independent annual ranking that assesses the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) around the world.

Low-risk countries wishing to maintain their low risk ranking, and all countries wishing to improve their ranking, should take guidance in the following characteristics that low-risk countries typically share:

  • Strong AML/CFT legislation including on the freezing of terrorist funds
  • Competent authorities with the mandate and resources to investigate and prosecute ML/TF offences and issue sanctions for non-compliance
  • Comprehensive measures for domestic and international cooperation
  • High level of press freedom, with the media playing a central role in uncovering and reporting financial crime
  • Financial sector highly regulated with competent supervisory authorities and minimal, if any, cash-based transactions
  • High levels of transparency and integrity in public institutions and businesses
  • Low levels of corruption
See: https://index.baselgovernance.org/start_index  for more information

Country

Risk score 2017

Risk score 2018

Change in score 2017–2018

FINLAND

1.78

2.57

+0.80

ESTONIA

2.73

2.73

0.00

LITHUANIA

3.67

3.12

-0.55

NEW ZEALAND

3.03

3.20

+0.17

MACEDONIA

4.09

3.33

-0.76

BULGARIA

3.84

3.53

-0.31

SLOVENIA*

2.78

3.75

+0.97

SWEDEN*

3.40

3.75

+0.35

CROATIA

4.11

3.83

-0.28

ISRAEL

3.59

3.84

+0.24



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