North Macedonia Country Summary
Medium Risk
View full Ratings TableSanctions
Higher Concern
FATF AML Deficient List
Lower Concern
Terrorism
Medium Concern
Corruption
Medium Concern
US State ML Assessment
Lower Concern
Criminal Markets (GI Index)
Medium Concern
EU Tax Blacklist
Lower Concern
Offshore Finance Center
Lower 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
North Macedonia 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 North Macedonia was undertaken in 2025. According to that Evaluation, North Macedonia was deemed Compliant for 6 and Largely Compliant for 25 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. It remains Highly Effective for 0 and Substantially Effective 1 with regard to the 11 areas of Effectiveness of its AML/CFT Regime.
Sanctions
There are currently no international sanctions in force against North Macedonia.
Criminality
Rating |
0 (bad) - 100 (good) |
|---|---|
| Transparency International Corruption Index | NA |
| World Bank: Control of Corruption Percentile Rank | NA |
North Macedonia faces significant challenges related to crime and corruption, despite having laws aimed at combating these issues. While the government has initiated various anti-corruption measures and established new bodies to coordinate efforts, enforcement remains weak, often targeting lower-level offenders and critics rather than high-ranking officials, which undermines public trust in institutions.
The country is a notable source and transit point for human trafficking and drug trafficking, with organized criminal networks playing a prominent role in various illicit markets. Although there have been improvements in governance and judicial processes, issues such as nepotism, corruption within law enforcement, and a substantial informal economy continue to hinder resilience against crime and corruption.
Economy
North Macedonia's economy is characterized by moderate growth, with a GDP growth rate of 2.2% in 2024, hindered by high energy prices, inflation, and disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war. The government has implemented a Growth Acceleration Plan aiming to double the average GDP growth rate to 5% and reduce unemployment from 12.5% to 8.6% by 2026, while also seeking to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) through incentives in free economic zones. Despite a generally favorable environment for business, challenges such as corruption, a complex regulatory framework, and a high unemployment rate persist, impacting investor confidence and the overall investment climate.
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