What is the Global Sanctions Index and who publishes it?

The Global Sanctions Index (GSI) is a report published by LSEG Risk Intelligence that tracks the number of individuals and entities subject to economic restrictions worldwide. It provides organisations with data and analysis to help them understand and navigate the increasingly complex global sanctions landscape. The report is considered a key resource for compliance and risk management professionals.

How many people and entities are currently under global sanctions?

According to the latest Global Sanctions Index report from LSEG Risk Intelligence, approximately 82,000 individuals and entities are now subject to economic restrictions worldwide. This figure represents a record high, reflecting the growing use of sanctions as a geopolitical and economic policy tool by governments and international bodies. The numbers have risen sharply in recent years amid ongoing global conflicts and diplomatic tensions.

Why are global sanctions at a record high?

The unprecedented rise in global sanctions reflects an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment, with governments and international bodies using economic restrictions more frequently as a foreign policy response to conflicts, human rights abuses, and security threats. The ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, have contributed significantly to the surge. Sanctions have become one of the most commonly deployed tools of international diplomacy and economic pressure.

What do record-high global sanctions mean for businesses and PR professionals?

For businesses, record-high sanctions levels mean heightened compliance obligations, greater reputational risk, and the need for robust due diligence processes when engaging with international partners, clients, and suppliers. For PR and communications professionals, understanding the sanctions landscape is essential when advising clients on reputation management, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagement. Staying across developments in this space is a critical part of providing sound strategic counsel.

How does Third Hemisphere keep PR professionals informed about global regulatory trends like sanctions?

Third Hemisphere regularly publishes editorial content under its Required Reading category, curating and analysing significant global developments that are relevant to communications professionals and business leaders in Australia and beyond. Posts like its coverage of the Global Sanctions Index are designed to surface important PR industry insights that help practitioners stay informed and provide better strategic advice to their clients. Following Third Hemisphere's blog is a practical way to keep up with the issues shaping the communications industry.

Why should Australian PR agencies like Third Hemisphere pay attention to global sanctions trends?

Australian businesses operate in an interconnected global economy, meaning that shifts in the international sanctions landscape can directly affect local companies, their supply chains, and their reputations. PR agencies like Third Hemisphere need to understand these trends in order to advise clients on compliance communications, crisis preparedness, and the reputational risks associated with sanctioned entities. Awareness of global regulatory developments is increasingly a core competency for strategic communications professionals in Australia.

Global sanctions reach record high