OFAC sanctioned countries: why there is no single country list

There is no single OFAC country list that answers every question. OFAC runs some sanctions that broadly prohibit most transactions involving a particular country or region, and many more that target specific people and companies connected to a country or an activity (OFAC FAQ 10). To see which programs exist, use OFAC's Sanctions Programs and Country Information page. To decide whether you can deal with a particular customer or vendor, you still need to screen the name.

Two kinds of program

OFAC's own description: "The sanctions can be either comprehensive or selective, using the blocking of assets and trade restrictions to accomplish foreign policy and national security goals" (Sanctions Programs and Country Information).

• Comprehensive sanctions broadly prohibit most transactions involving the jurisdiction and may also block its government. These jurisdictions include both countries and certain geographic regions (OFAC FAQ 10).
• Targeted sanctions impose restrictions on specific persons in relation to a jurisdiction or an activity. Persons on the SDN list are blocked, and U.S. persons are prohibited from transactions involving them wherever they are located (same FAQ).

So a country appearing on OFAC's programs page does not mean everything involving that country is prohibited, and a country not appearing there does not mean every person in it is clear.

Where the country programs are listed

OFAC's programs page lists each program by name. The country-named programs on it, as checked on 9 October 2026, include Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia and Venezuela-related sanctions, alongside region-related programs such as the Balkans and Ukraine-/Russia-related sanctions and activity-based programs such as counter terrorism, counter narcotics trafficking and cyber-related sanctions (Sanctions Programs and Country Information). Each program page links to its regulations, guidance and general licenses.

We deliberately do not reproduce a "comprehensively sanctioned countries" list here. Programs change, and the scope of each one is set by its regulations and current general licenses, not by a summary. OFAC itself notes that sanctions programs may change frequently and advises checking its website regularly (OFAC FAQ 10).

What a country check does and does not tell you

A country rule answers "can I do this kind of business there at all?" A name check answers "is this particular person or company blocked?" You usually need both.

The last row matters most for business counterparties. Any entity owned 50 percent or more, in the aggregate, by blocked persons is blocked even if it is not on the SDN list (OFAC FAQ 91). That is true whatever country the company sits in. See the 50 percent rule with worked examples.

Exporters: there are other lists

If you ship goods, OFAC is not the only government list. OFAC's own guidance on matching alerts mentions non-OFAC lists maintained by other agencies, such as the Department of Commerce's BIS Entity List (OFAC FAQ 5). The Consolidated Screening List on trade.gov combines several of them. See the BIS Entity List and denied party screening for small exporters.

A practical approach

1. Check the programs page for the countries you sell to or buy from, and read the program pages that apply.
2. Screen every counterparty by name against the SDN list and OFAC's other lists, whatever country they are in.
3. For companies that matter, ask who owns them.
4. Re-screen when the lists change. OFAC leaves the frequency to your own policies (OFAC FAQ 28); see how often to re-screen.
5. Keep the dated result. OFAC's rules require records of each transaction subject to them for at least 10 years (31 CFR 501.601).

This is screening data and general information, not legal advice.

Run a free OFAC check on a customer or vendor in any country, against the current SDN and Consolidated lists.