Economic sanctions are restrictive measures imposed by national governments like the United States and international bodies like the United Nations to influence the actions of other states or non-state actors that pose a threat to their interests or violate international norms. These sanctions aim to alter behavior without resorting to military force. Sanctions can take various forms, including trade barriers, tariffs, restrictions on financial transactions, asset freezes, and travel bans. The goal is to create economic pressure that compels the targeted entities to change their behavior or policies.
Economic sanctions are widely used as tools of foreign policy and international governance. For instance:
- According to the United Nations, there are currently (in 2024) over a dozen active sanctions regimes targeting issues ranging from terrorism and nuclear proliferation to human rights abuses and regional conflicts.
- The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in the United States administers and enforces more than 30 sanctions programs targeting countries and entities involved in activities such as narcotics trafficking, terrorism, and human rights violations. These programs cover over 8,000 individuals and entities.
- As of 2023, the European Union has more than 40 different sanctions regimes in place, affecting numerous countries and hundreds of individuals and entities.
ComplyAdvantage sanctions intelligence
ComplyAdvantage offers the full spectrum of critical, global sanctions intelligence that is updated in real-time. We offer the fastest sanctions data updates in the market. This is our proprietary data collected at scale, automatically curated and enriched using advanced AI algorithms.
We also have a dedicated analyst team that signs off on the automated pipeline. They ensure that only authentic sources are scanned every minute.
To access the sanctions lists covered by ComplyAdvantage, visit and follow Data Updates. You will then be notified each time the lists are updated.
By leveraging ComplyAdvantage's sanction intelligence, regulated businesses can ensure compliance with international sanctions, mitigate financial crime risks, and maintain the integrity of their operations. Our data is continuously updated to provide the most current and accurate information, helping businesses stay ahead in the complex financial crime risk management landscape.