The Developing World lost US$903 billion in illicit outflows in 2009, despite the massive financial crisis which rocked the global economy in late 2008. The capital outflows stem from crime, corruption, tax evasion, and other illicit activity.
The report finds that the the vast majority of the drop from US$1.55 trillion to US$903 billion was due to a decrease in volumes of international trade, foreign direct invest, and new external loans, rather than any government action. From 2000 to 2009, developing countries lost US$8.44 trillion to illicit outflows.