United Kingdom Country Summary
Sanctions
Lower Concern
FATF AML Deficient List
Lower Concern
Terrorism
Lower Concern
Corruption
Lower Concern
US State ML Assessment
Higher Concern
Criminal Markets (GI Index)
Medium Concern
EU Tax Blacklist
Lower Concern
Offshore Finance Center
Higher Concern
Please note that although the below Summary will give a general outline of the AML risks associated with the jurisdiction, if you are a Regulated entity then you may need to demonstrate that your Jurisdictional AML risk assessment has included a full assessment of the risk elements that have been identified as underpinning overall Country AML risk. To satisfy these requirements, we would recommend that you use our Subscription area.
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Anti Money Laundering
FATF Status
The United Kingdom is not on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies
Compliance with FATF Recommendations
The last follow-up Mutual Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards in the United Kingdom was undertaken in 2022. According to that Evaluation, the United Kingdom was deemed Compliant for 24 and Largely Compliant for 15 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. It remains rated Highly Effective for 4 and Substantially Effective for 4 of the Effectiveness & Technical Compliance ratings.
Sanctions
There are no international sanctions currently in force against this country
Criminality
Rating |
0 (bad) - 100 (good) |
---|---|
Transparency International Corruption Index | 71 |
World Bank: Control of Corruption Percentile Rank | 91 |
The US State Department's Investment Climate Statement for 2024 indicates that while there are isolated instances of bribery in the UK, U.S. investors do not view corruption as a significant barrier to business. The UK has implemented the Bribery Act 2010, which provides a comprehensive legal framework to combat bribery, including provisions for prosecuting offenses committed abroad. Additionally, the UK faces challenges with human trafficking, drug markets, and cybercrime, while the government remains committed to tackling organized crime despite recent political instability.
Economy
The United Kingdom (UK) boasts a robust and open economy, characterized by a mature consumer market and a strong emphasis on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), having secured £78.8 billion in greenfield FDI in 2022 alone. The country offers a transparent regulatory environment, a common language, and a legal system that protects private ownership, making it an appealing destination for investors. Additionally, the UK government actively promotes inward investment and has established various programs to support business growth across diverse sectors.
The United Kingdom is a highly attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), characterized by a business-friendly environment and minimal restrictions on foreign ownership across most sectors. In 2022, the UK secured £78.8 billion ($97.4 billion) in greenfield FDI, making it the leading European destination for FDI for 15 consecutive years. The UK government actively promotes inward investment and provides various programs to support business growth, ensuring that foreign-owned companies are treated equally to domestic firms.

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- Risk Analysis
- Corruption
- Economy
- Sanctions
- Narcotics
- Executive Summaries
- Investment Climates
- FATF Status
- Compliance
- Key Findings