The Sahel region of Africa has continued to dominate global terrorism statistics, accounting for nearly half of all terrorism-related deaths for the third year in a row, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index.
The report, released on Thursday by the Institute for Economics and Peace, evaluates 163 countries based on factors such as attacks, fatalities, injuries, and hostage situations.
It found that in 2024, over half of the 7,555 terrorism deaths recorded worldwide occurred in the Sahel, a vast semi-arid belt south of the Sahara Desert. In 2025, although total global deaths dropped to 5,582, the region still accounted for nearly half of that figure.
The report noted a dramatic rise in terrorism in the Sahel over time, stating, “The Sahel has suffered a tenfold increase in terrorism fatalities since 2007”. It added that “The epicentre of terrorism has shifted from the Middle East and North Africa, into the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa.”
Pakistan replaced Burkina Faso as the most affected country in 2025, recording 1,139 deaths and 1,045 incidents. The increase was linked to renewed militant activity following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, as well as actions by the Pakistani Taliban and the Baloch Liberation Army.
Burkina Faso saw a 45 percent drop in deaths to 846, largely due to fewer civilian casualties rather than improved security. The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, known as JNIM, reportedly changed its tactics by focusing more on military targets.
Niger’s situation worsened significantly, pushing it to third place globally with 703 deaths, more than half involving civilians.
Nigeria ranked fourth, with 750 deaths in 2025, a 46 percent increase compared to the previous year. The rise was linked to ongoing clashes between Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, as well as broader internal security challenges.
Mali recorded fewer deaths, dropping to fifth place with 341 fatalities, compared to 604 in 2024.
The report also highlighted the expansion of extremist violence into coastal West African countries, particularly Benin, which moved up to 19th place from 26th.
Overall, the findings show that terrorism is increasingly concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, raising concerns about regional stability and the spread of militant groups.