The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is a comprehensive study analysing the impact of terrorism for 163 countries covering 99.7 percent of the world’s population.
Global Terrorism Index 2025
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is a comprehensive study analysing the impact of terrorism for 163 countries covering 99.7 percent of the world’s population. The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) has released the Global Terrorism Index 2025, offering an in-depth overview of terrorism trends and patterns over the past 17 years.
According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 report, Pakistan has now become the second-most terrorism-affected country in the world, moving up from its previous position at fourth. The country saw a dramatic 45 percent increase in terrorism-related fatalities, with deaths rising from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024. This sharp surge marks one of the highest increases globally. Additionally, the number of terrorist attacks more than doubled, jumping from 517 incidents in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024. This marks the first time since the inception of the GTI that attacks surpassed the 1,000 mark.
The GTI report highlights the role of Afghanistan’s territory in fueling terrorism in Pakistan. It links the escalation in attacks to the rise of the Afghan Taliban’s power in Kabul. Militant groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have intensified their operations, especially along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The TTP remains the deadliest group, responsible for 52 percent of all terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan. In 2024, the TTP carried out 482 attacks, resulting in 558 deaths — a sharp 90 percent increase from the previous year.
The Sahel region remains terrorism’s epicentre, accounting for over half of all global terrorism deaths
Islamic State (IS) expands its operations to 22 countries and remains the deadliest organisation, causing 1,805 deaths, with 71% of its activity being in Syria and DRC
Deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (excluding the Sahel) are now at their lowest since 2016, dropping by 10%
Terrorist attacks jumped by 63% in the West, Europe was most affected where attacks doubled to 67
In 2024, several Western countries reported one in five terror suspects as under 18, with teenagers accounting for most IS-linked arrests in Europe
Seven Western countries are in the first 50 most impacted countries on the Global Terrorism Index
Antisemitic and Islamophobic hate surged globally, with the US seeing a 200% rise in antisemitic incidents in 2024
The epicenter of terrorism has shifted out of the Middle East and into the Central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, which now accounts for over half of all deaths from terrorism.
Burkina Faso suffered the worst impact from terrorism, with deaths increasing by 68% despite attacks decreasing by 17%.
Iraq recorded the largest improvement in the last decade with deaths from terrorism falling by 99% since the 2007 peak, to 69 in 2023.
Deaths from attacks by unknown Jihadists globally are eight times higher than in 2017, representing 32% of all terrorism deaths and 18 times higher in the Sahel.
Drone technology and its use continues to rapidly evolve, especially with groups such as IS, Boko Haram and Houthis.
