Final answer:
Money laundering estimates range widely, with some figures suggesting nearly $100 billion to between 4% and 5% of the global GDP, translating to approximately $1 trillion to over $100 trillion, given the global GDP exceeds $80 trillion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of how much money is laundered annually by various global institutions is a complex one, as estimates vary widely. Money laundering is a significant illegal activity that governments and international organizations are constantly trying to measure and combat. It involves the processing of criminal proceeds to disguise their illegal origin and integrates them into the legal economy. The range of estimated laundered money globally can be as low as nearly $100 billion, with other estimates indicating that between 4% and 5% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) could be involved in laundering activities. This converts to approximately $1 trillion to more than $100 trillion when considering the global GDP is more than $80 trillion. The exact amounts, however, are inherently difficult to quantify due to the secrecy and illegality surrounding money laundering practices.