The Basel AML Index 2025 has placed Tunisia among the countries least exposed to money laundering on the African continent and as the second least risky country in the MENA region, behind Oman.
With an overall score of 4.75 on a scale of 10 (where a lower score indicates better resilience to money laundering), the country positions itself as the 4th least vulnerable African country.
On a global scale, the situation is different. Among the 177 countries assessed, Tunisia ranks 119th, placing it in the middle group of the ranking.
To clarify, the index distinguishes three groups of countries: Low exposure (low risk), Medium exposure (medium risk), and High exposure (high risk).
Compared to 2024, where it was ranked 106th, this new position marks an improvement of 13 places on the global scale, as in this index, the higher the score and rank, the less exposed a country is to money laundering risk.
The “Basel AML Index 2025” is an annual ranking compiled by the Basel Institute on Governance, which assesses countries’ vulnerability to money laundering and other related financial crimes.
The 2025 edition covers 177 countries and jurisdictions in its public version. It does not seek to measure the actual volume of money laundering but to establish a risk profile: how exposed a country is, and how capable it is of defending its system against these threats.
To do this, the index relies on 17 indicators from recognized public sources. These indicators are grouped into five areas: the quality of the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulatory framework, corruption and fraud risks, transparency and financial standards, public accountability and transparency, and legal and political risks.
On the continent, Botswana (151st global rank) stands out as the only African country featured in the group of countries least exposed to money laundering (low risk).
Other African countries are mainly in the medium-risk category, such as Seychelles (126th), Mauritius (123rd), Tunisia and Namibia (116th), Morocco (100th), Ghana (96th), Egypt (87th), Zambia (84th), and Senegal (83rd).
At the other end of the ranking, some African countries are among the most exposed to money laundering risk (high risk). Notably: Democratic Republic of the Congo (3rd global rank), Chad (4th), Equatorial Guinea (5th), Gabon (8th), Central African Republic (9th), Guinea-Bissau (10th), Republic of the Congo (11th), Djibouti (13th), Niger (14th), and Algeria (15th).
These countries are characterized by significant vulnerabilities, including weak governance, limited regulatory control, and heightened exposure to corruption and fraud—factors that facilitate money laundering and related financial crimes.
Globally, the countries least exposed to money laundering are predominantly located in Europe and Oceania. Topping the ranking is Finland with a score of 3.03.
It is closely followed by Iceland (3.04), San Marino (3.08), Denmark (3.18), Estonia (3.25), Sweden (3.48), Andorra (3.48), Slovenia (3.49), Norway (3.73), and New Zealand (3.76).
These countries are distinguished by robust financial institutions, transparent governance, and effective mechanisms to combat corruption and money laundering.
In the Arab world, Oman stands out as the least risky country, with a score of 4.25, ranking 143rd out of 177 countries. Its low risk is explained by strict regulations, effective financial oversight, and relatively stable governance.
Conversely, the countries most exposed to money laundering risk exhibit significant structural weaknesses. Myanmar occupies the top global position with a score of 8.18, due notably to weak institutions, widespread corruption, and limited regulatory control. It is followed by Haiti (8.12), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (7.63), Chad (7.56), and Equatorial Guinea (7.55).
