Country risk

Categories of
Financial risk
Credit risk
Settlement risk Concentration risk Sovereign risk Default risk
Market risk
Interest rate risk Inflation risk Currency risk Equity risk Commodity risk Volatility risk Systemic risk
Liquidity risk
Refinancing risk Deposit risk Margining risk
Investment risk
Model risk Execution risk Valuation risk
Business risk
Reputational risk Operational risk Country risk Political risk Legal risk Moral hazard
Profit risk
Non-financial risk
Stranded asset
v t e

Country risk refers to the risk of investing or lending in a country, arising from possible changes in the business environment that may adversely affect operating profits or the value of assets in the country. For example, financial factors such as currency controls, devaluation or regulatory changes, or stability factors such as mass riots, civil war and other potential events contribute to companies' operational risks. This term is also sometimes referred to as political risk; however, country risk is a more general term that generally refers only to risks influencing all companies operating within or involved with a particular country.

Political risk analysis providers and credit rating agencies use different methodologies to assess and rate countries' comparative risk exposure. Credit rating agencies tend to use quantitative econometric models and focus on financial analysis, whereas political risk providers tend to use qualitative methods, focusing on political analysis. However, there is no consensus on methodology in assessing credit and political risks.