Vatican City Country Summary
Sanctions
No
FATF AML Deficient List
No
Terrorism
Corruption
US State ML Assessment
Criminal Markets (GI Index)
EU Tax Blacklist
Offshore Finance Center
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 Vatican City 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 Vatican City was undertaken in 2024. According to that Evaluation, the Vatican City was deemed Compliant for 5 and Largely Compliant for 30 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. It remains Highly Effective for 0 and Substantially Effective for 5 of the Effectiveness ratings.
Sanctions
There are no international sanctions currently in force against this country
Bribery & Corruption
Rating | 0 (bad) - 100 (good) |
---|---|
Transparency International Corruption Index | NA |
World Bank: Control of Corruption Percentile Rank | NA |
Economy
Vatican City's economy is primarily tourism-based, supported by donations from Catholic believers, sales of postage stamps, and museum admission fees. It operates without taxes and employs nearly 2,000 people, experiencing both deficits and surpluses, which indicates a generally stable economic situation despite its limited scope.
The investment climate in Vatican City is characterized by its unique status as a sovereign entity governed by the Holy See, which restricts traditional investment opportunities. Recent initiatives aimed at enhancing financial oversight, including the establishment of a secretariat for the economy and the appointment of an auditor-general, seek to improve transparency and attract ethical investments that align with the Vatican's religious and cultural mission.
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- Risk Analysis
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- Key Findings