Morocco ranked as ‘vigilant’ in Global Financial & Economic Crime Index

Morocco has been classified as a “vigilant player” in the fight against financial crime, according to the 2025 Global Economic and Financial Crime Index published by Secretariat, an Indian risk management consultancy. The ranking comes at a critical juncture as the country works to strengthen its cybersecurity framework following a recent large-scale cyberattack.

The North African kingdom ranks 75th out of 177 countries with a score of 2.14, based on assessment criteria covering money laundering, corruption, and organized crime. This classification places Morocco among 64 nations considered “vigilant players” – countries that, while actively engaged in combating financial crime, still require improvements to enhance their effectiveness.

This category also includes major economic powers such as the United States, France, Spain, and Japan, with scores ranging from 1.54 to 2.18. These nations are characterized by their implementation of rigorous policies to counter financial crime while continuously adapting regulations to address emerging risks.

“As risk professionals, we know that threats are constantly evolving, testing the global financial system. Financial crimes such as money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption, and fraud are a constant challenge,” Bhavin Shah, Managing Director at Secrétariat, was quoted by L’Économiste newspaper as saying.

Shah emphasized that the rapid rise of virtual assets, decentralized finance, and advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning intensifies these threats by introducing new criminal methods alongside more sophisticated detection tools.

The report forecasts that illicit financial flows could reach between $4.5 and $6 trillion globally by 2030, underscoring the urgency for countries in all categories to strengthen their regulatory frameworks.

For “vigilant” nations like Morocco, the recommendations include reinforcing internal governance, conducting regular audits, and enhancing cross-border collaboration to exchange knowledge and resources. These measures are particularly critical as technological advancements continue to reshape the landscape of financial crime and cybersecurity.