The World's Piracy Hotspots

Somali piracy has resurged since 2023, with a fourth vessel — the MT Eureka — hijacked off Yemen in May and reportedly taken toward Somalia. Analysts say naval forces have been distracted by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. According to the International Maritime Organization, East Africa has recorded the world’s highest number of successful hijackings since 2000, with 161 cases, mostly tied to Somali piracy during its 2007–2012 peak.

The South China Sea has seen the highest overall number of piracy incidents, with more than 2,000 attacks since 2000, though most were low-level thefts. Piracy there has fallen sharply over the past decade thanks to greater regional cooperation. Meanwhile, attacks in the Singapore Strait rose again in 2024, reaching 91 incidents before easing after Indonesian authorities dismantled two pirate gangs.

West Africa remains a major danger zone, particularly for kidnappings and fatalities involving seafarers.