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
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 |