While the global tally of terrorist attacks has dropped by nearly a third since its 2014 peak, a closer look at the numbers reveals a deeply unsettling shift, as the epicenter of violence has moved to sub-Saharan Africa where deaths have surged by a staggering 193% over the past decade.
Key Takeaways
- According to the Global Terrorism Database, between 1970 and 2020, there were 201,183 terrorist incidents recorded worldwide
- The Global Terrorism Index 2023 reports that terrorist attacks decreased by 9% in 2022 compared to 2021, totaling 6,701 incidents globally
- From 2013 to 2022, sub-Saharan Africa saw a 193% increase in terrorism deaths, rising from 2,409 to 6,994, per the Institute for Economics and Peace
- In 2022, 6,852 people were killed by terrorism globally, a 9% decrease from 2021, per Global Terrorism Index 2023
- From 2000-2019, terrorism caused 179,570 deaths worldwide, with 95% in conflict zones, per GTD
- Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 48% of global terrorism deaths in 2022 (3,295 deaths), per IEP
- ISIS was responsible for 73% of terrorism deaths from 2013-2016 globally, per GTD
- Al-Shabaab conducted 1,861 attacks since 2010, killing 7,715, per GTD
- Taliban perpetrated 7,830 attacks from 2000-2020, per GTD
- Bombings and explosions were used in 52% of terrorist attacks globally from 1970-2020, per Global Terrorism Database
- Private citizens and property targeted in 44% of attacks since 1970, per GTD
- Armed assaults accounted for 37% of incidents 1970-2020, per GTD
- Sub-Saharan Africa had 2,988 deaths but highest attacks (38% global) in 2022, per GTI
- Middle East-North Africa 20% of attacks but 12% deaths in 2022, shift from dominance, per GTI 2023
- Sahel countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger) 40% of African deaths, 2nd deadliest region, per GTI
While global terrorism incidents have declined, the threat remains severe and geographically concentrated.
Casualties and Fatalities
- In 2022, 6,852 people were killed by terrorism globally, a 9% decrease from 2021, per Global Terrorism Index 2023
- From 2000-2019, terrorism caused 179,570 deaths worldwide, with 95% in conflict zones, per GTD
- Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 48% of global terrorism deaths in 2022 (3,295 deaths), per IEP
- ISIS attacks from 2014-2019 killed 27,947 people, per GTD
- In Afghanistan, 1,309 terrorism deaths in 2022, down 94% from Taliban takeover peak, per GTI
- Boko Haram/ISWAP caused 2,899 deaths in Nigeria in 2022, per ACLED
- The 9/11 attacks killed 2,977 victims, the deadliest terrorist incident ever, per GTD
- Globally, 89% of terrorism deaths occur in conflict countries, per GTI 2023
- Al-Shabaab killed 1,864 in Somalia 2022, per ACLED
- From 1970-2020, bombings/explosives caused 49% of terrorism fatalities (46,280), per GTD
- Sahel region: 4,129 terrorism deaths in 2022, up 53% from 2021, per GTI
- Iraq: 614 terrorism deaths in 2022, down 39% YoY, per GTD
- Women and children comprise 20% of terrorism fatalities since 2000, per UN
- Paris 2015 attacks: 130 killed by ISIS, per GTD
- Globally, terrorism deaths peaked at 44,490 in 2014, per GTI
- Burkina Faso: 1,842 deaths in 2022, 86% increase, per ACLED
- Sri Lanka Easter bombings 2019: 259 killed by NTJ/ISIS, per GTD
- From 2013-2022, 84,512 terrorism deaths globally, per NCTC
- Mali: 1,081 deaths in 2022 from JNIM/ISGS, per ACLED
- Manchester Arena bombing 2017: 22 killed, per GTD
- Nigeria: 2,348 civilian deaths from terrorism in 2022, per Council on Foreign Relations
- Oslo/Utøya attacks 2011: 77 killed by far-right extremist, per GTD
- Syria: 1,946 deaths in 2022, per GTD
- Christchurch mosque shootings 2019: 51 killed, per GTD
- JNIM caused 83% of Sahel deaths in 2022 (3,591), per ACLED
- Pakistan: 579 deaths in 2022, per SATP
- Bataclan theatre attack 2015: 90 killed, part of Paris attacks, per GTD
- ISKP Kabul airport bombing Aug 2021: 183 killed, per GTD
- Ethiopia: 1,368 terrorism deaths in 2022 from OLA/TPLF, per ACLED
- London 7/7 bombings 2005: 52 killed, per GTD
Casualties and Fatalities Interpretation
While each statistic represents a tragic human toll, the chillingly consistent thread is that terrorism remains predominantly a byproduct of conflict, preying on the vulnerable while its global death count stubbornly ebbs and flows like a grotesque tide.
Geographic Distribution
- Sub-Saharan Africa had 2,988 deaths but highest attacks (38% global) in 2022, per GTI
- Middle East-North Africa 20% of attacks but 12% deaths in 2022, shift from dominance, per GTI 2023
- Sahel countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger) 40% of African deaths, 2nd deadliest region, per GTI
- Afghanistan ranked #1 in GTI 2022 pre-Taliban, now #8 with 1,309 deaths, per IEP
- South Asia 15% global attacks 2022, led by Pakistan/India, per GTD
- Western Europe: 0.1% global deaths but 10 countries affected, per GTI 2023
- Nigeria #3 globally with 2,348 deaths, all Sahel/Lake Chad, per GTI
- Somalia #4, Burkina Faso #5 in GTI rankings 2023, per IEP
- Iraq/Syria: 94% drop in deaths since 2014 peak (33,438), per GTI
- Latin America 5% attacks, Colombia/Myanmar outliers, per GTD
- North America: 1 attack death in 2022 (U.S.), lowest ever, per GTI
- Central Asia low impact, 1% deaths, Tajikistan rising, per GTD
- Southeast Asia: Philippines/Indonesia 200 attacks yearly, per GTD
- Russia/Caucasus: 100 attacks 2022, ISKP focus, per ACLED
- India: Jammu Kashmir 70% of 152 attacks 2022, per SATP
- Turkey: Southeast 80% PKK attacks, per GTD
- Yemen: 150 attacks 2022, Houthis/AQAP, per ACLED
- Myanmar: 300 attacks post-coup by ethnic groups, per ACLED
- Mali #1 Sahel, 1,081 deaths urban/rural mix, per ACLED
- Europe: France 7 attacks, Austria Vienna 2020 notable, per Europol TE-SAT
- U.S.: 25 attacks 2022, mostly far-right, per GTD
- Colombia: Nariño/Cauca hotspots for ELN/FARC dissidents, per GTD
- Philippines: Mindanao 90% ASG attacks, per GTD
- Pakistan: KPK/Balochistan 85% of 286 attacks, per SATP
- Ethiopia Tigray/Oromia 95% of 1,368 deaths, per ACLED
Geographic Distribution Interpretation
Despite its geographic shift, global terrorism remains a grimly persistent shape-shifter: while the Sahel now bleeds disproportionately, the West celebrates near-zero deaths, proving that the world’s pain is still cruelly, and unevenly, distributed.
Incidence and Frequency
- According to the Global Terrorism Database, between 1970 and 2020, there were 201,183 terrorist incidents recorded worldwide
- The Global Terrorism Index 2023 reports that terrorist attacks decreased by 9% in 2022 compared to 2021, totaling 6,701 incidents globally
- From 2013 to 2022, sub-Saharan Africa saw a 193% increase in terrorism deaths, rising from 2,409 to 6,994, per the Institute for Economics and Peace
- Europol's TE-SAT 2023 notes 28 jihadist terrorist attacks in the EU in 2022, up from 15 in 2021
- The U.S. State Department's Country Reports on Terrorism 2022 indicates 149 terrorist incidents in Afghanistan in 2022
- Global Terrorism Database records 8,125 attacks in 2014, the peak year for incidents since 1970
- In 2021, the Sahel region experienced 2,313 terrorist attacks, a 28% increase from 2020, per ACLED data integrated in GTI
- UNODC reports 5,226 terrorism-related events in 2021 across 90 countries
- RAND Database of Worldwide Terrorism Incidents logged over 40,000 incidents from 1968-2007
- The Global Terrorism Database shows a 31% decline in attacks from 2014 peak to 2020
- In 2022, India recorded 152 terrorist incidents, primarily in Jammu and Kashmir, per South Asia Terrorism Portal
- Europol TE-SAT 2022 reported 5 completed jihadist attacks in EU in 2021
- Global Terrorism Index notes 97 countries experienced terrorism deaths in 2022, down from 58 in 2013
- From 2000-2019, Middle East and North Africa had 51,321 attacks, 45% of global total per GTD
- In 2020, COVID-19 led to a 22% drop in global terrorist attacks to 5,133, per GTD
- Nigeria saw 989 attacks in 2022, mostly by Boko Haram and ISWAP, per ACLED
- The U.S. NCTC 2022 report lists 16,000 terrorist attacks worldwide from 2013-2022
- Pakistan had 286 attacks in 2022, down 45% from 2021, per SATP
- Global Terrorism Database indicates ethno-nationalist attacks peaked at 2,500 in 1992
- In 2023 Q1-Q2, Burkina Faso had 412 attacks, per ACLED
- IEP GTI 2023: Western Europe saw 12 attacks in 2022
- Colombia recorded 147 FARC-related attacks in 2016 pre-peace deal, per GTD
- Syria had 1,219 attacks in 2022, per GTD updates
- From 1970-2020, unknown perpetrators claimed 38% of GTD incidents
- Mali attacks rose 71% to 666 in 2022, per ACLED
- Global attacks fell 25% in 2019 to 4,924, per GTD
- Philippines had 131 attacks by Abu Sayyaf in 2016-2020, per GTD
- Somalia: 1,083 attacks in 2022, mostly Al-Shabaab, per ACLED
- Turkey recorded 297 PKK attacks in 2022, per GTD
- Global Terrorism Index 2022: Attacks in South Asia dropped 50% since 2014 peak
Incidence and Frequency Interpretation
While global terrorism has thankfully declined from its 2014 peak, this cold comfort is shattered by the grim reality that the threat has not receded but rather violently relocated, concentrating its fury in regions like sub-Saharan Africa where deaths have skyrocketed by 193% in a decade.
Perpetrators and Groups
- ISIS was responsible for 73% of terrorism deaths from 2013-2016 globally, per GTD
- Al-Shabaab conducted 1,861 attacks since 2010, killing 7,715, per GTD
- Taliban perpetrated 7,830 attacks from 2000-2020, per GTD
- Boko Haram/ISWAP responsible for 35,882 deaths since 2009, per CFR tracker
- JNIM (AQIM affiliate) conducted 1,200+ attacks in Sahel since 2017, per ACLED
- PKK carried out 45% of Turkey's attacks since 1982 (over 5,000), per GTD
- ISWAP overtook Boko Haram as deadlier in 2019, with 1,000+ attacks by 2022, per ACLED
- Hamas launched 20,000+ rockets since 2001, per Israel MFA
- FARC was responsible for 27% of Colombia's attacks 1970-2016 (3,854), per GTD
- Al-Qaida in Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) conducted 200+ attacks since 2009, per CSIS
- Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) revived with 250 attacks in 2022, per SATP
- Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) responsible for 1,200 kidnappings since 1991, per GTD
- Shining Path (SL) caused 31% of Peru's attacks 1980-1990s (4,700+), per GTD
- Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) behind Mumbai 2008 (166 killed), 500+ attacks since 1990, per SATP
- ISIS-Khorasan (ISKP) conducted 100+ attacks since 2015, including Kabul 2021, per GTD
- ETA (Basque) perpetrated 829 attacks 1968-2010, killing 829, per GTD
- IRA Provisional faction responsible for 1,800 attacks during Troubles, per GTD
- Al-Qaida core group conducted 25 high-profile attacks 1990-2010, per GTD
- Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) behind Bali 2002 (202 killed), 100+ attacks SE Asia, per GTD
- OLA (Oromo Liberation Army) 800+ attacks in Ethiopia since 2018, per ACLED
- Far-right extremists conducted 450 attacks globally 1990-2020, per GTD
- Hezbollah linked to 1,100+ attacks worldwide since 1982, per GTD
- Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) 2,000+ attacks Uganda/CAR 1987-2020, per GTD
- Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) 300+ attacks Pakistan since 2010, per SATP
- Caucasus Emirate/IS 500+ attacks Russia 2000-2015, per GTD
- Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 1,500 attacks Philippines pre-2014, per GTD
- Houthi rebels 200+ cross-border attacks on Saudi since 2015, per ACLED
- White supremacists responsible for 73% of U.S. extremist murders 2009-2018, per ADL
- ELN (Colombia) 1,200 attacks since 2016 peace deal FARC, per GTD
Perpetrators and Groups Interpretation
The grim ledger of terror shows that while a small number of groups monopolize the headlines and the lion's share of bloodshed, the true threat is a persistent hydra of localized insurgencies and ideological franchises, each carving its own gruesome niche in history.
Targets and Methods
- Bombings and explosions were used in 52% of terrorist attacks globally from 1970-2020, per Global Terrorism Database
- Private citizens and property targeted in 44% of attacks since 1970, per GTD
- Armed assaults accounted for 37% of incidents 1970-2020, per GTD
- Transportation targets hit in 10% of attacks, often buses/trains, per GTD
- Vehicle ramming used in 214 attacks since 1970, rising post-2015, per GTD
- Religious figures/institutions targeted in 8% of attacks, spiking with jihadists, per GTD
- Assassinations comprised 12% of tactics (24,000 incidents), per GTD
- Suicide attacks numbered 5,945 from 1982-2020, 50% by ISIS/Taliban, per Chicago Project on Security and Threats
- Business targets hit in 15% of attacks, often kidnappings, per GTD
- Firearms used in 44% of fatal attacks, per GTD
- Government targets 13% of incidents, diplomatic most lethal, per GTD
- Hostage taking/kidnapping in 5% of attacks (10,000+), per GTD
- Educational institutions targeted 500+ times since 1970, 40% post-2010, per GTD
- Drones used in 25 terrorist attacks since 2017, mostly ISIS, per New America
- Maritime targets attacked 300 times since 1970, per GTD
- Chemical/biological weapons in 0.3% of attacks (78 incidents), per GTD
- Police targeted in 20% of attacks in democracies, per GTD
- Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in 30% of Iraq/Afghan attacks 2004-2014, per GTD
- Journalists targeted 1,200 times, 300 killed since 1970, per GTD/CPJ
- Cyber terrorism attempts numbered 1,000+ but few successful, per CSIS
- Markets/bazaars frequent targets in Sahel (25% attacks), per ACLED
- Airports targeted 200 times, deadliest post-9/11, per GTD
- Tourists/foreigners hit in 4% but 10% fatalities, per GTD
- Knives/melee in 5% rising with lone actors, 500+ since 2015, per GTD
- Utilities/energy infrastructure 300 attacks since 1970, per GTD
- Military targets 22% of attacks but low lethality, per GTD
- Nightclubs/bars targeted 150 times, e.g., Pulse 2016 (49 killed), per GTD
Targets and Methods Interpretation
Terrorism is a grim, shape-shifting cowardice that, according to decades of data, has settled on a brutal preference for explosives against everyday people in public spaces, proving it cares less for grand political theater than for the raw, bloody spectacle of shattering ordinary life.
Sources & References
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