The Sources of Global Criminal Revenue in 2023

What We’re Showing

The distribution of global illicit funds by type of illegal activity. Data comes from Nasdaq’s 2024 Global Financial Crime Report. 

The Rising Tide Of Illegal Funds

Criminal funds amounted to a staggering $3.1 trillion worldwide in 2023.

Organized crime, fraud, corruption, and other types of illegal activity made up about 63% of all illicit funds flowing through the criminal world. 

Drug trafficking ranked as second-larged source, making up $783 billion of all illicit funds. Drug trafficking groups often use sophisticated money laundering techniques like trade-based schemes, shell companies, and money mules to move their funds.

While the Asia-Pacific region had the highest amount of illicit funds in total, the Americas as a region had the highest amount of illicit funds from drug trafficking at $287 billion.