Global Terrorism Index 2018: Deaths from terrorism fall 44%, but terrorism remains widespread

Deaths from terrorism fall 44%,
but terrorism remains widespread

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This year’s Global Terrorism Index showed a continuing trend of a decline in terrorism, with deaths from terrorism falling for the third consecutive year, after peaking in 2014. The total number of deaths fell by 27% between 2016 and 2017, with the largest falls occurring in Iraq and Syria. The overall trend of a decline in terrorism deaths reflects the increased emphasis placed on countering terrorism around the world since the surge in violence in 2013. However, whilst the GTI finds that the global impact from terrorism is on the decline, it also shows that terrorism is still widespread, and even getting worse in some regions.

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Continue reading to learn what caused this decline, get the key numbers and discover the top 5 countries most impacted by terrorism.

KEY FINDINGS

What caused the decline?

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A fall in the intensity of conflict in the Middle East, the decline of ISIL, and an increase in counterterrorism activity has meant that the total number of deaths from terrorism declined for the third consecutive year, falling by 27% to 18,814 deaths in 2017. The year on year fall in deaths was mirrored by a fall in the number of attacks, which fell 23% from 2016 to 2017. Although the number of deaths from terrorism is now at its lowest level since 2013, it is still a major global threat. Deaths remain substantially higher than a decade ago, and are still nearly three times as high as the number recorded in 2001. Terrorism also remains a widespread problem, with 67 countries experiencing at least one death.

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IN THE FINDINGS

Europe had the biggest year on year percentage improvement, with total deaths falling by 75%. France, Germany, and Belgium all recorded significant falls in deaths from terrorism.

BY THE NUMBERS

$52BN: Total global economic impact of terrorism
94: Number of countries that recorded improvements in the Index
27%: Decline in terrorism deaths compared to 2016
5: Number of countries that recorded over 1000 deaths from terrorism.
46: Number of countries that deteriorated in the GTI
487: Number of people killed in 2017’s worst terrorist attack