Nigeria has moved up to sixth place in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, with a score of 7.658. The country had previously ranked eighth in both 2023 and 2024. The latest report, released on March 5, 2025, shows a concerning increase in terrorist activities and fatalities across the country.
Burkina Faso remains the most affected country, leading the index with a score of 8.581. It is followed by Pakistan (8.374), Syria (8.006), Mali (7.907), and Niger (7.776), ranking second to fifth, respectively. Meanwhile, Somalia (7.614), Israel (7.463), Afghanistan (7.262), Cameroon (6.944), and Myanmar (6.929) round out the top ten.
In Nigeria, 565 people lost their lives to terrorism-related incidents in 2024, marking a continued rise in fatalities. The report noted that while global terrorism deaths have declined by nearly a third since 2015, Nigeria has seen fluctuations in its figures. The country experienced a peak of 2,101 deaths in 2014, which later dropped significantly to 392 in 2022. However, in recent years, fatalities have risen again, increasing by 34% in 2023 to 533, before climbing to 565 in 2024.
The report also noted that IS-Sahel, a terrorist group active in the Liptako-Gourma region—where Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger meet—has expanded its operations to Algeria, Benin, and Nigeria. In 2024 alone, the group carried out 16 attacks in Nigeria, along with 12 in Niger, six in Mali, and one in Burkina Faso.
Additionally, more countries worldwide experienced terrorist attacks in 2024, with the number rising from 58 to 66. This marks the highest figure since 2018. The report stated, “Terrorism remains a persistent global threat, with 2024 marking another year of shifting patterns and evolving challenges.”
The Sahel region has become the deadliest area for terrorism, accounting for 51% of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024. This represents a nearly tenfold increase since 2019. In total, conflict-related deaths in the region exceeded 25,000, with 3,885 directly linked to terrorist attacks.
Despite Burkina Faso remaining the most impacted country, the report noted a decline in both attacks and deaths in 2024, dropping by 57% and 21%, respectively. However, the country still accounted for one-fifth of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide.
Niger was highlighted as a country where terrorism-related deaths saw a major rise, increasing by 94% to 930 fatalities in 2024. This was a sharp reversal from 2022, when Niger had recorded one of the biggest improvements in combating terrorism. The report warned that this suggests the progress made in Burkina Faso might not be permanent.
