Statistics on Incidents of Terrorism Worldwide
(Updated June 2016)
Between 2014 and 2015 global terrorist attacks decreased in frequency by 13%, and total deaths from terror attacks decreased by 14%. 2015 saw a total of 11,774 terrorist attacks worldwide, resulting in 28,328 deaths and more than 35,000 injuries. In addition, more than 12,100 people were kidnapped or taken hostage. During 2015...
- The total number of terrorist attacks decreased by 13% and total deaths due to terrorist attacks decreased by 14%, compared to 2014. This was largely due to fewer attacks and deaths in Iraq, Pakistan, and Nigeria. This represents the first decline in total terrorist attacks and deaths worldwide since 2012.
- In several countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, the Philippines, Syria, and Turkey, terrorist attacks and total deaths increased.
- Although terrorist attacks took place in 92 countries, they were heavily concentrated geographically. More than 55% of all attacks took place in five countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nigeria), and 74% of all deaths due to terrorist attacks took place in five countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria, and Pakistan).
- While the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) was responsible for 31% fewer terrorist attacks in Iraq, the number of attacks carried out by ISIL in Syria increased by 39%. The geographic reach of attacks by ISIL and its affiliates expanded as several existing terrorist groups pledged allegiance to ISIL. In addition to Boko Haram in West Africa, the most active of these ISIL branches were located in Afghanistan/Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen.
- The number of attacks in which victims were kidnapped or taken hostage declined in 2015; however, the number of kidnapping victims and hostages increased. This was primarily due to an increase in the number of attacks involving exceptionally large numbers of victims.
Year |
Total Attacks |
People Killed |
People Injured |
People Kidnapped |
|
14,415 |
22,720 |
44,103 |
4,980 |
|
11,663 |
15,709 |
33,901 |
4,680 |
|
10,968 |
15,311 |
32,660 |
10,749 |
|
11,641 |
13,193 |
30,684 |
6,051 |
|
10,283 |
12,533 |
25,903 |
5,554 |
|
6,771 |
11,098 |
21,652 |
1,283 |
|
9,707 |
17,891 |
32,577 |
2,990 |
|
13,463 |
32,727 |
34,791 |
9,428 |
|
11,774 |
28,328 |
35,320 |
12,189 |
Countries With the Most Terror Attacks (2014)
Country |
Total Attacks |
Total Killed |
Total Wounded |
Avg. Killed
per Attack |
|
Iraq |
2,418 |
6,932 |
11,856 |
2.99 |
5.23 |
Afghanistan |
1,708 |
5,292 |
6,246 |
3.24 |
4 |
Pakistan |
1,009 |
1,823 |
1,325 |
1.1 |
1.36 |
India |
791 |
289 |
508 |
0.38 |
0.68 |
Nigeria |
589 |
4,886 |
2,777 |
9.29 |
7.67 |
Egypt |
494 |
656 |
844 |
1.34 |
1.73 |
Sources: United States Department of State
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