The Sahel remains the global epicentre of terrorism, accounting for over half of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024 with the number of countries affected increasing. Five of the ten countries most impacted by terrorism are in this region.
Although Burkina Faso remains the most affected country, both deaths and attacks declined, falling by 21 and 57 per cent respectively, however the country is still responsible for a fifth of all terrorism deaths globally. Niger highlights how fragile progress in reducing terrorism deaths can be. In 2024, the country recorded the largest increase in terrorism deaths globally, rising by 94 per cent to a total of 930, reversing previous improvements from 2022 when it had the second largest improvement. Niger’s example may mean that the improvements in Burkina Faso are transitory.
Geopolitical changes continue to shape security dynamics across the Sahel. The Alliance of Sahelian States, comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has moved away from the West, instead strengthening ties with Russia and China. This shift, along with the bloc’s withdrawal from ECOWAS, has created opportunities for groups such as JNIM to expand their activities into coastal West Africa. Togo recorded its worst year for terrorism since the inception of the Index, reflecting the broader spread of terrorist activity beyond the Sahel’s traditional hotspots.
Competition over natural resources, especially gold, has also played a role in the region’s instability. Niger, the world’s seventh largest uranium producer, has also attracted growing international interest as global powers seek to secure access to critical materials. Russia and China have strengthened their presence in the region, offering security and economic support with fewer conditions than Western counterparts. Meanwhile, France has continued its military withdrawal from West Africa, signalling a broader shift in influence away from the West.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has had an impact on its operations in sub-Saharan Africa, with some of its resources being diverted towards the war. Russia’s growing involvement in the Sahel has included influence campaigns aimed at reshaping local perceptions of Western governments, including their counterterrorism efforts. These campaigns have materially influenced rising anti-French sentiment in Sahelian countries.
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025, produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace, provides a comprehensive assessment of the state of terrorism worldwide. While overall deaths from terrorism declined in 2024, specific countries continue to experience significant threats.
For the second consecutive year, Burkina Faso ranked as the country most impacted by terrorism. Despite a 21 per cent decline in deaths, the country still accounted for 1,532 fatalities from terrorist attacks. The Sahel region remains the epicentre of violence, with Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) responsible for the deadliest attack in Centre-Nord, which claimed between 200 and 600 lives.
Pakistan saw a significant increase in terrorism-related deaths, rising by 45 per cent to 1,081 fatalities in 2024. This marks the largest year-on-year increase in over a decade. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains the most lethal group, responsible for 52 per cent of all terrorist-related deaths in the country. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) also escalated its activities, with a suicide bombing at a railway station in Balochistan killing 25 people.
Syria moved up two places to rank as the third most impacted country. Ongoing instability and militant activity, particularly in the Idlib region, contributed to continued terrorist violence. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) remains active, orchestrating targeted bombings and assassinations.
Mali recorded 604 deaths from 201 attacks in 2024, marking a 21 per cent reduction in terrorism-related fatalities. JNIM remained the most prominent group, although overall attacks declined. Despite the slight improvement, terrorist groups continue to exploit Mali’s political instability following the 2021 coup, with delays in the return to civilian rule exacerbating the security crisis.
Niger saw the largest increase in terrorism deaths globally, surging by 94 per cent to 930 fatalities. The deterioration in security led to Niger’s worst ranking in the GTI since its inception. Attacks primarily occurred along the borders shared with Burkina Faso and Mali, with JNIM and Islamic State affiliates driving the violence.
Nigeria remains one of the most impacted countries, recording 565 deaths from terrorist activity in 2024. While the number of attacks decreased by 37 per cent, fatalities still rose by six per cent. Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWA) continued to wage deadly conflicts, with Yobe State emerging as a hotspot for violence.
Somalia remains in seventh place, with 359 terrorism-related deaths recorded in 2024. Al-Shabaab was responsible for nearly all attacks in the country. The group’s deadliest incident occurred in Mogadishu, where a suicide bombing and armed assault on a hotel killed 37 people.
Following a surge in terrorism-related violence in 2023, Israel fell six places to rank eighth in 2024. The October 7 attack by Hamas in 2023 resulted in an exceptionally high death toll. In 2024, Hamas continued its activities, with the deadliest attack in Tel Aviv killing seven civilians.
Afghanistan recorded 113 deaths from terrorism in 2024, marking a 12 per cent decline from the previous year. Despite fewer fatalities, the number of terrorist incidents increased by 20 per cent, with attacks rising from 73 to 87. Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISK) remained the deadliest group, responsible for over half of all deaths.
Cameroon re-entered the list of the ten most impacted countries for the first time since 2019. The country recorded 205 deaths from 153 terrorist incidents in 2024. Boko Haram was responsible for the majority of attacks, particularly in the Extreme Nord region, where 27 fishermen were killed in the deadliest attack of the year.
Global Terrorism Index
Published annually by the leading international think tank the Institute of Economics & Peace (IEP), the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is the most comprehensive resource on global terrorism trends and uses multiple factors to calculate its score, including the number of incidences, fatalities, injuries and hostages, and combines it with conflict and socio-economic data to provide a holistic picture of terrorism.
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— Understanding Global Terrorism Index 2025 – Frequently Asked Questions
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