Global Terrorism Index 2025

Key Findings (Part 1)

Results
Globally, terrorism remains a significant challenge. 

The number of countries with a recorded terrorist incident increased from 58 to 66 countries in 2024. 

Forty-five countries deteriorated, while 34 improved when compared to 2023. 

Although 2024 saw reductions in both deaths and attacks, these improvements were offset by the continued spread of terrorism. 

Deaths from terrorism fell to 7,555 in 2024, a 13 per cent reduction from the prior year. The fall follows the surge in deaths in 2023, driven by Hamas’ October 7 attack in Israel. 

Without the 2023 Hamas attack, deaths in 2024 would have been nearly equal to those recorded in 2023. 

The number of terrorist attacks fell by three per cent in 2024 to 3,492 total attacks. This was driven by an 85 per cent decrease in terrorist activity in Myanmar. Without the reduction in Myanmar, attacks would have increased by eight per cent. 

The four terrorist groups responsible for the most deaths in 2024 were Islamic State (IS), Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and al- Shabaab. Their combined influence continues to increase, with deaths attributed to these groups increasing by 11 per cent to 4,204 deaths. 

Islamic State (IS) and its affiliates remained the world’s deadliest terrorist group in 2024, and is active in 22 countries, one more than in 2023. Deaths attributed to the group and its affiliates declined by ten per cent, from 1,996 to 1,805 deaths. 

The Sahel is the most affected region globally, accounting for over half of all deaths from terrorism in 2024, and 19 per cent of attacks globally. Five of the ten countries most impacted by terrorism are in the Sahel region. 

Burkina Faso remains the country most impacted by terrorism this year, despite attacks and deaths falling by 57 and 21 per cent respectively. A fifth of all terrorism deaths globally were in Burkina Faso, followed by Pakistan and Syria. 

Niger and Pakistan had the largest increases in deaths from terrorism, with increases of 94 and 45 per cent respectively. 

Terrorism increased substantially in both Russia and Iran, highlighting the deteriorating security situation. Russia recorded 197 terrorism deaths while Iran recorded 163. 

Of the major terrorist organisations, TTP was responsible for the largest increase in deaths, which rose by 90 per cent to 558 deaths. 

​Deaths attributed to JNIM experienced the second largest increase, rising by 46 per cent to 1,454 total deaths. Its attacks also tended to be the deadliest, with an average of ten deaths per attack. 
 
Global Terrorism Index 2025. Institute for Economics & Peace. Sydney, Australia.