Belize Country Summary
Medium Risk
View full Ratings TableSanctions
Lower Concern
FATF AML Deficient List
Lower Concern
Terrorism
Lower Concern
Corruption
Medium Concern
US State ML Assessment
Higher Concern
Criminal Markets (GI Index)
Medium Concern
EU Tax Blacklist
Medium 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.
If you would like a demo of our Subscription area, please reserve a day/time that suits you best using this link, or you may Contact Us for further information.
Anti Money Laundering
FATF Status
In May 2015 the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) acknowledged the significant progress made by Belize in improving its AML/CFT regime and notes that Belize has established the legal and regulatory framework to meet its commitments in its agreed Action Plan regarding the strategic deficiencies that the CFATF had identified. Belize is therefore no longer subject to the CFATF ICRG monitoring process.
Compliance with FATF Recommendations
The last Mutual Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards in Belize was undertaken in 2025. According to that Evaluation, Belize was deemed Compliant for 38 and Largely Compliant for 2 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. It was deemed Highly Effective for 0 and Substantially Effective for 5 of the Effectiveness ratings.
Sanctions
There are currently no international sanctions in force against Belize.
Criminality
Rating |
0 (bad) - 100 (good) |
|---|---|
| Transparency International Corruption Index | NA |
| World Bank: Control of Corruption Percentile Rank | 48 |
Belize faces significant challenges related to crime and corruption, with anticorruption laws in place that are poorly enforced, leading to widespread public distrust. The country is a notable hub for drug trafficking and human trafficking, with local gangs exerting considerable control over these illicit markets, often operating with impunity and connections to political elites, while the effectiveness of law enforcement and anti-crime initiatives remains limited.
Economy
Belize's economy, the smallest in Central America, is projected to grow by 4.1% in 2023, driven primarily by sectors such as tourism, construction, and business process outsourcing, contributing to a GDP of $3.1 billion. The government has made strides in debt management, with public debt slightly increasing to 66.3% of GDP, while the Central Bank's reduction of domestic debt holdings has opened up investment opportunities. Despite the encouragement of foreign direct investment (FDI) through various incentives and reforms, challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles, crime, and corruption persist, deterring potential investors and highlighting the need for further improvements in the investment climate.
Subscribe to
Professional Plus
- Unlimited Access to full Risk Reports
- Full Dataset Download
- API Access
- Virtual Asset Risk Assessments
