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Global Terrorism Index
2015 Global Terrorism Index
Terrorism continues to rise, with over 32,000 people killed in terrorist attacks in 2014, the highest number recorded. Despite being highly concentrated in five countries, terrorism is spreading, with more countries recording attacks and deaths.
Now in its third year, the Global Terrorism Index provides a detailed analysis of the changing trends in terrorism across 162 countries, over the last 15 years. It investigates the patterns of terrorism by geographic activity, methods of attack, organisations involved and the national economic and political context.
Explore the interactive data map to see the global impact of terrorism since 2002
Download results map (pdf)
KEY FACTS
- Deaths from terrorism increased 80% last year to the highest level ever, with 32,685 people killed, compared to 18,111 in 2013.
- Boko Haram and ISIL were jointly responsible for 51% of all claimed global fatalities in 2014.
- 78% of all deaths and 57% of all attacks occurred in just five countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria.
- Iraq continues to be the country most impacted by terrorism with 9,929 terrorist fatalities the highest ever recorded in a single country.
- Nigeria experienced the largest increase in terrorist activity with 7,512 deaths in 2014, an increase of over 300% since 2013.
- The global economic cost of terrorism reached an all-time peak at US$52.9 billion.
- Since 2000 there have been over 61,000 terrorist attacks, killing more than 140,000 people.
- Thirteen times as many people are killed globally by homicides than die in terrorist attacks.
TERRORISM CONTINUES TO RISE
There has been a dramatic rise in terrorism over the last 15 years. There are nine times more people killed in terrorist attacks today than there were in 2000. In 2014, 32,685 lives were lost to terrorism, the highest number recorded, and an 80% increase from 2013. 
Download detailed incidents map (pdf)
Just two terrorist groups, ISIL and Boko Haram, are now jointly responsible for 51% of all deaths from claimed terrorist attacks world-wide. Both groups predominately target private citizens.
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TERRORISM IS SPREADING
Terrorism spread significantly in the past year, with attacks and fatalities in more countries than ever. While many countries experience no terrorist activity, the number of countries to experience at least one or more deaths from terrorist activity has increased from 59 in 2013 to 67 in 2014. This includes OECD countries such as Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada and France.
Despite this, just five countries - Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria– account for 78% of all deaths in 2014. Importantly, over 60% of the countries ranked by the Index experienced no deaths from terrorism, and 13 times as many people are killed globally by homicides than die in terrorist attacks.
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THE UNDERLYING DRIVERS OF TERRORISM
The two factors most closely associated with terrorism are the levels of political violence and conflict. Ninety-two per cent of all terrorist attacks between 1989 and 2014 occurred in countries where political violence by the government was widespread, while 88% of all terrorist attacks between 1989 and 2014 occurred in countries that were experiencing or involved in violent conflicts.
However, drivers of terrorism differ: in OECD countries, socio-economic factors such as lack of opportunity and low social cohesion correlate significantly, while in non-OECD countries, internal conflicts, political terror, and corruption are strongly correlated.
“Since we can see a number of clearly identifiable socio-political factors that foster terrorism, it is important to implement policies that aim to address these associated causes. This includes reducing state-sponsored violence, diffusing group grievances, and improving respect for human rights and religious freedoms, while considering cultural nuances,” said Steve Killelea, Institute for Economics and Peace Founder and Executive Chairman.
TERRORISM IN THE WEST: LONE WOLF ATTACKS
The majority of deaths from terrorism do not occur in the West. Excluding the September 11 attack, only 0.5% of deaths from terrorism have occurred in the West since 2000. Including September 11, the percentage reaches 2.6.
Of the attacks that do occur, lone wolf attackers are the main perpetrators, causing 70% of all deaths in the West over the past 10 years. It is important to note that political extremism, not Islamic fundamentalism is the main driver of terrorism in Western countries.
FOREIGN FIGHTERS
The rise of ISIL has brought with it several challenging dynamics for counterterrorism. The flow of foreign fighters into Iraq and Syria since 2011 is the largest influx in modern times. Current estimates now range from 25,000 to 30,000 fighters, from roughly 100 countries. Half of the foreign fighters travelling to Iraq and Syria are from neighbouring MENA countries and a quarter from Europe and Turkey. The flow of foreign fighters does not appear to be diminishing with over 7,000 arriving in the first six months of 2015.
For the full statistics on Foreign Fighters see the Global Terrorism Index page 45. For an analysis on why individuals become foreign fighters for violent extremists groups see page 73.
THE ROOT CAUSES OF FORCED MIGRATION
Terrorist activity is a significant driver of forced migration. Ten of the 11 countries most affected by terrorism also have the highest rates of refugees and internal displacement. This highlights the strong connection between the current refugee crisis, terrorism and conflict.
Download the Global Terrorism Index report
Explore the interactive data map: see the full list of country ranks, compare two or more countries, or use the timeline to see changes in terrorism impact since 2002.
METHODOLOGY
Developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace, and based on the Global Terrorism Database aggregated by START, a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence led by the University of Maryland, the Global Terrorism Index provides a comprehensive summary of the impact of terrorism in 162 countries, (99% of the world’s population). The indicators include the number of terrorist incidents, fatalities, injuries and property damage.
Tags: Global, Index, Terrorism
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joe on
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Can you imagine if the IRA had had an entire industry of academics/quangos who shilled for the IRA?
A Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence led by the University of Maryland FEATURED RESEARCH
U.S. perpetrators tend to attack close to home
In recent years, more than half of terrorism incidents have occurred within 30 miles of the perpetrator’s city of residence, indicating an increasing prevalence for terrorists in the United States to live closer to the target than in years past, according to a new START report based on data from the American Terrorism Study. Read more.
Proportion of terrorist attacks by religious and right-wing extremists on the rise in United States
Terrorist attacks in the United States between 2010 and 2016 were typically carried out by individual perpetrators who were only loosely linked to a specific organization or ideological movement, according to a recent START report. Based on analysis from START’s Global Terrorism Database (GTD), the report categorizes the 2,794 terrorist attacks and 3,659 resulting deaths in the United States from 1970-2016 by the ideology of the attacker(s) and explains the ideological patterns of these attacks by decade. Read more.
Fact Sheet: American Deaths in Terrorist Attacks
From 1995-2016, more than 3,600 Americans have been killed in terrorist attacks worldwide. Of those, 3,277 Americans were killed in attacks in the United States – 2,902 in the September 11 Attacks alone. Read more.
DISCUSSION POINT
Recasting and repositioning CVE as a grand strategic response to terrorism
In a new editorial piece, START Executive Director William Braniff posits that traditional counterterrorism efforts must be subordinated to the CVE paradigm to successfully marginalize terrorism. Read more.
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ICONS simulates Baltic security crisis to help students understand the 'gray zone'
ICONS will give students the opportunity to serve as diplomats attempting to organize a relief effort and navigate through political tensions during a hypothetical school bombing as part of a just-released simulation, “Baltic Security Crisis.” Read more.
Middle Eastern Values study data available
A recently published dataset with about 24,000 completed face-to-face interviews has just been made available through the Middle Eastern Values Study, a project led by START affiliated researcher Mansoor Moaddel. The "Comparative Cross-National Study of Religious Fundamentalism, Developmental Idealism, Values, and Morality” project consists of cross-nationally comparable nationally representative sample data collected in eight countries in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Read more.
START graduate student earns IALEIA honors
The International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis (IALEIA) recently honored Jason Bakas, a START graduate certificate student, with an award and scholarship for his research on the use of violence risk assessment tactics in counterterrorism efforts, focusing specifically on lone actor terrorism incidents. Read more.
Iconic website gets a refresh
The ICONS team recently overhauled its website to better serve students, teachers, policymakers and business leaders who turn to ICONS to strengthen their ability to make decisions, navigate crises, think strategically and negotiate collaboratively. Read more.
Combatting terrorism with data analytics
Thomas Guarrieri recently joined START’s Unconventional Weapons and Technology Division, where he examines the intersection of adversarial behavior and unconventional threats, such as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons. Read more.
“Best Practices in Preparing for and Responding to Domestic Terroris...” hosted by the Insight Exchange Network, in partnership with START
Nov. 15-16 at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center, Washington, D.C.
Book Talk: "Rebel Power: Why National Movements Compete, Fight, and...
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UMD Center for Disaster Resilience Distinguished Lecture on future ...
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**Career Opportunity: Director, Unconventional Weapons and Technology Division**
Within the overall mission of START, UWT integrates a portfolio of research projects seeking to improve the holistic understanding of CBRN and other emerging technology threats emanating from non-state actors and applying these insights to practical measures to reduce these threats. The Division focuses on the social and behavioral elements of terrorism involving unconventional weapons and places strong emphasis on transitioning cutting-edge research to the larger policy and practitioner communities. Open until filled.
START: Translation Support and Qualitative Researcher (Part-time) Open until filled
Call for Proposals: Causes, Conduct and Consequences of Terrorism book series Submissions accepted on rolling basis.
Community-led Action in Response to Violent Extremism (CARVE) online training. Learn more and register here.
Using the Global Terrorism Database online training. Learn more and register here.
The Terror-Crime Nexus & Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Threats online course. Register now.
Understanding Terrorism and the Terrorist Threat online open course is now on demand. Participate now.
Free online short series of video lectures on “Core Capabilities and Potential Durability of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).” View now.
START IN THE NEWS
The New Yorker: The Ignominious End of the ISIS Caliphate
This New Yorker article about the decline of ISIS and their ideals includes a quote from START Executive Director William Braniff and uses data from START’s Global Terrorism Database (GTD).
Colorado Public Radio: When is someone a terrorist? Do journalists get it right?
START Researcher Bryan Arva and START TRA Erin Kearns are featured in this Colorado Public Radio segment about their research into media coverage on terrorism. (11/9)
The Washington Post: What political science can tell us about mass shootings
START Researcher Erica Chenoweth is quoted in this article about data-based insights into mass shootings.
ABC News Atlanta: FBI lays groundwork to prevent truck attacks in Georgia
START Researcher Anthony Lemieux is quoted in this ABC-WSB Atlanta articleabout preventing future attacks akin to the one in New York.
The Hill: Cities grapple with how to protect soft targets from new attacks
START Researcher Victor Asal is quoted in this article about public safety in the wake of the New York City attack.
Bustle: Can vehicle attacks in the US ever be stopped?
START Executive Director William Braniff is quoted in this article about decreasing the lethality of vehicle based attacks in the United States. -
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Muslim Terrorism Count
Mission Overview
Most Western societies are based on Secular Democracy, which itself is based on the concept that the open marketplace of ideas leads to the optimum government. Whilst that model has been very successful, it has defects. The 4 Freedoms address 4 of the principal vulnerabilities, and gives corrections to them.
At the moment, one of the main actors exploiting these defects, is Islam, so this site pays particular attention to that threat.
Islam, operating at the micro and macro levels, is unstoppable by individuals, hence: "It takes a nation to protect the nation". There is not enough time to fight all its attacks, nor to read them nor even to record them. So the members of 4F try to curate a representative subset of these events.
We need to capture this information before it is removed. The site already contains sufficient information to cover most issues, but our members add further updates when possible.
We hope that free nations will wake up to stop the threat, and force the separation of (Islamic) Church and State. This will also allow moderate Muslims to escape from their totalitarian political system.
The 4 Freedoms
These 4 freedoms are designed to close 4 vulnerabilities in Secular Democracy, by making them SP or Self-Protecting (see Hobbes's first law of nature). But Democracy also requires - in addition to the standard divisions of Executive, Legislature & Judiciary - a fourth body, Protector of the Open Society (POS), to monitor all its vulnerabilities (see also Popper).
1. SP Freedom of Speech
Any speech is allowed - except that advocating the end of these freedoms
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Any party is allowed - except one advocating the end of these freedoms
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Immigration is allowed - except where that changes the political demography (this is electoral fraud)
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The Central Bank is allowed to create debt - except where that debt burden can pass across a generation (25 years).
An additional Freedom from Religion is deducible if the law is applied equally to everyone:
- Religious and cultural activities are exempt from legal oversight except where they intrude into the public sphere (Res Publica)"
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