In 2025, there are a few major trends that are changing the world and need the attention of people who work to stop financial crime and scams. These trends include solutions that use AI, new technologies and resources, the use of information, what regulators expect, and a greater focus on being proactive.
Do you know something? This article discusses the most important money laundering statistics for 2025. It focuses on new trends you should be aware of and long-standing ones that will stay on the list.
Money laundering, the process of concealing the origins of illegally obtained money, has become a global menace. Criminal groups and organizations exploit modern systems, perpetuating security, environmental problems, and health crises. The scale of this illegal activity is difficult to assess, but it is considered significant.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), between 2% and 5% of global GDP is laundered each year. This translates into an astounding amount between EUR 715 billion and 1.87 trillion each year. Consequently, the need for effective anti-money laundering (AML) strategies is more pressing than ever. The U.S.A., China, Russia, and Mexico have the most money laundering.
“Money laundering is the backbone of organized crime.” – Robert Mazur, former undercover agent and author of The Infiltrator.
“Money laundering is like water—it finds every crack and crevice unless you seal it tight.” – John Cassara, former U.S. Treasury special agent.
In 2025, the money laundering landscape witnessed several significant changes, influenced by geopolitical developments, regulatory amendments, and technological advancements. Some prominent statistics from this year include
The number of money laundering cases worldwide increased. Despite constant efforts to curb these activities, criminals continually exploited loopholes and employed sophisticated methods to launder money.
With the growing digitization of financial services, digital money laundering, particularly through cryptocurrencies, saw a significant upsurge. Criminals leveraged the anonymity provided by digital currencies to obscure their illicit financial trails.
Regulatory authorities globally imposed hefty penalties on institutions found complicit in money laundering activities. In the US alone, penalties for money laundering offenses reached a record high in 2024.
The most common money laundering methods include
Digital methods like cryptocurrency transactions are rising. According to global reports, over 50% of laundering cases involve complex corporate structures, and around 30% use real estate. The financial sector and cross-border transactions remain key channels for concealing illicit funds.
The magnitude of money laundered globally each year is staggering. The statistics reveal that money laundering is not just a localized problem but a global issue that requires international cooperation, particularly from the EU and Europe. The UNODC estimates that the amount laundered globally each year is between 2% and 5% of the global GDP. This amounts to between EUR 715 billion and 1.87 trillion
These figures underline the need for robust AML measures and efficient customer onboarding processes. Regulatory bodies worldwide are tightening their oversight to combat such unlawful financial activities. Companies like KYC Hub offer advanced AML solutions that provide fast and efficient customer onboarding, thereby contributing significantly to these efforts.
According to the Basel AML Index (Basel Institute on Governance), countries such as Haiti, Chad, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with Sweden, are ranked among the highest-risk countries for money laundering activities.
It is essential to examine the statistics from various regions to gain a comprehensive understanding of money laundering trends. These statistics provide crucial insights into the scale of money laundering activities and the effectiveness of the measures implemented to combat them.
In the United States, money laundering continues to be a significant concern. The U.S. Department of the Treasury published the 2024 National Risk Assessments on Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Proliferation Financing, highlighting the most significant illicit finance threats, vulnerabilities, and risks facing the country.
These reports confirm and update key illicit finance concerns in response to the evolving threat and risk environment. The United States tops the list of countries with the highest rates of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) events per capita. With more than 11,472 events, that’s almost 3.5 events for every 100,000 people.
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury in the USA, approximately $300 billion in money is laundered annually, which represents 15% – 38% of global money laundering activity.
Furthermore, U.S. authorities have handed out penalties worth $14 billion in connection to AML violations in 2022, highlighting the significant financial risks associated with failing to comply with AML regulations.
The United Kingdom has seen a rise in money laundering activities, with money laundering being the most common AML event, making up 27.5% of all AML events. To combat this issue, the UK has implemented robust AML measures, focusing on understanding and verifying UBOs (Ultimate Beneficial Owners).
The UK is the second-worst-offending country, with 1,664 recorded AML events—almost 2.5 events per 100,000 people. Specifically, money laundering accounts for more than three-quarters of AML events in the UK, indicating a significant gap in the nation’s efforts to eradicate it compared to countries such as the Netherlands.
In Australia, drug trafficking has been identified as the highest-recorded AML event, making up almost 40.9% of all AML events. The country is taking active measures to combat money laundering, particularly through property investments and various money laundering schemes.
Canada has also seen a rise in money laundering activities, with AML compliance failures making up 23.9% of all AML events. The country has implemented strong AML measures to combat money laundering, focusing on understanding and verifying UBOs.
Canada saw a rise in money laundering cases linked to the proceeds of crime involving real estate and cryptocurrency transactions. Given these trends, Canada reinforced its AML framework, particularly focusing on real estate transactions and digital currencies.
Germany, like many other countries, has seen a significant increase in money laundering activities. The country is taking active measures to prevent money laundering, particularly through the implementation of robust AML measures and efficient customer onboarding processes.
According to a report in Friday’s Singapore Business Times, the assets confiscated in the country’s largest money laundering case have increased from S$2.8 billion in October to above S$3 billion (US$2.24 billion).
The police issued restrictions on disposal orders for 55 new houses and 15 cars, according to The Business Times. Along with the arrest warrants, the police issued Interpol Red Notices, requesting law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and apprehend two individuals. These individuals had departed Singapore before last year’s raid.
Ukrainian money laundering has been a long-standing issue, fueled by corruption, lax financial supervision, and political instability. Criminal networks and corrupt authorities have taken advantage of gaps in banking and offshore systems to hide dirty money. Despite stricter regulations and collaboration with global agencies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), reforms have consistently failed to address the issue. The most commonly used tactics for money laundering in Ukraine include shell businesses, real estate, and cryptocurrency. Particularly since 2014, Ukraine has made progress toward convergence with EU norms, but additional efforts are required to monitor high-risk regions and ensure accountability. International aid and domestic political will are necessary for long-term progress.
👉Related Read: AML Singapore: A Guide for 2025
In the fight against money laundering, we at KYC Hub are making a significant difference. KYC Hub offers fast and efficient customer onboarding with advanced AML solutions. We provide global AML solutions that help businesses comply with evolving local and global regulations while providing a seamless customer experience.
While money laundering continues to pose a significant threat globally, the implementation of robust AML measures and the use of advanced technology can significantly assist in combating this issue.
By staying informed about the latest statistics on money laundering and adopting efficient AML solutions, businesses can contribute significantly to the global fight against money laundering.
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