The Launch of the Global Organized Crime Index 2023
A Talk by Laura Adal , Rumbi Matamba , Mark Shaw and Global Initiative
About this Talk
The Global Organized Crime Index 2023 reveals the continuing rise of organized crime globally, with 83% of the world's population living in conditions of high criminality. Conversely, the number of people living in conditions of low resilience to organized crime globally has declined significantly: now, 62% of the world’s population, compared to 79.4% in 2021.
Still, while more people today live in countries characterized as having high resilience, when comparing global resilience to the rise in the pervasiveness of criminality, the data shows that response frameworks have failed to meet the organized crime threat. The widening gap between organized crime and our collective resilience efforts highlights the urgent need for informed, practical strategies to combat organized crime globally.
This enhanced tool reveals the reach and complexity of transnational organized crime while assessing the capacities of 193 UN member states to resist criminal threats. Building upon the 2021 edition, our 2023 Index introduces new indicators, revealing a more robust and comprehensive global picture.
Along with the original 10 criminal market indicators, the Organized Crime Index 2023 has introduced five new indicators to measure criminal activity:
- financial crimes
- cyber-dependent crimes
- illicit trade in excise goods
- counterfeit goods
- extortion and protection racketeering
These additions and the inclusion of private sector actors as a new "criminal actor" type provide a broader perspective on the emerging threats, and underscore our commitment to providing critical data that can help support effective response strategies.
As a data-driven toolkit, the Index now offers more expansive and refined analysis. This broadened lens enhances our collective understanding of the illicit economy and resilience capacities.
With the release of the Global Organized Crime Index 2023, we aim to empower global actors, from policymakers to civil society, to enact effective, evidenced-based strategies in the fight against organized crime.
