Terror & Turmoil
Terrorism continues to cast a long shadow over parts of Africa and Asia. The latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI) ranks the ten most affected countries, all of which are in these two regions. While conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan persist, the Sahel region has emerged as the new epicentre of global terrorism, with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger recording some of the highest fatality counts. The rankings, based on fatalities, injuries, attacks, and economic damage, reflect shifting patterns of extremist violence.
The infographic below provides a visual breakdown of the top ten most terrorism-affected countries, highlighting their GTI scores and fatality figures. It illustrates how violence is concentrated in specific regions and offers a clear picture of where the impact is most severe.
Key Takeaways:
- The Sahel as the World’s Deadliest Terror Zone – Burkina Faso (GTI 8.581) tops the list, with 1,532 deaths. Mali (7.907) and Niger (7.776) also report heavy losses, reinforcing the region’s instability.
- Pakistan and Afghanistan Remain Hotspots in South Asia – Pakistan (8.374) recorded 1,081 deaths, among the highest worldwide, while Afghanistan (7.262) continues to experience regular attacks.
- Nigeria and Somalia Face Prolonged Turmoil – Nigeria (7.658) and Somalia (7.614) together saw over 900 fatalities, highlighting ongoing instability in the region.
- Israel Enters the Rankings – With a GTI score of 7.463 and 18 deaths, its inclusion reflects a shifting security landscape.
- Cameroon Experiences the Least Impact Among the Ten – With a GTI score of 6.944 and 205 fatalities, it ranks lowest but remains on the list.
The findings underscore how terrorism is becoming increasingly concentrated in Africa, while long-running conflicts in South Asia and the Middle East continue to drive instability.
Data Source and Methodology:
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) measures the impact of terrorism based on four key factors: fatalities, injuries, attacks, and economic damage. Each country receives a score from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater terrorism-related impact. The rankings are derived from real-time data provided by Dragonfly’s TerrorismTracker and long-term trends analysed by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP).
Link to access Global Terrorism Index - https://www.visionofhumanity.org/maps/global-terrorism-index/#/
Link to access Global Terrorism Index 2025 Report - https://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Global-Terrorism-Index-2025.pdf
