Nigeria has climbed to sixth place in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), marking an increase in its terrorism impact ranking from eighth place in the past two years.
According to the latest report released on March 5, 2025, Nigeria recorded a GTI score of 7.658. Burkina Faso remains the most terrorism-affected country, topping the index with a score of 8.581. Pakistan (8.374), Syria (8.006), Mali (7.907), and Niger (7.776) ranked second through fifth, respectively.
Following Nigeria in seventh place is Somalia (7.614), while Israel (7.463), Afghanistan (7.262), and Cameroon (6.944) round out the top ten.
The report recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria in 2024, reflecting a concerning rise in fatalities over the past two years. While terrorism-related deaths have significantly decreased from Nigeria’s peak of 2,101 fatalities in 2014, recent years have seen a reversal of this trend. Deaths dropped to a low of 392 in 2022 but increased by 34% to 533 in 2023 and further to 565 in 2024.
The report attributes part of this violence to IS-Sahel, a terror group active in the Liptako-Gourma region, which spans Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The group has expanded its operations into Algeria, Benin, and Nigeria, carrying out 16 attacks in Nigeria in 2024, compared to 12 in Niger, six in Mali, and one in Burkina Faso.
The GTI report highlights that terrorism remains a persistent global threat, with 2024 witnessing an increase in the number of countries affected by at least one terrorist attack. The number rose from 58 to 66, the highest level since 2018.
More countries experienced worsening security conditions, with 45 reporting an increased impact from terrorism, compared to 34 that recorded improvements—marking the first time in seven years that more nations saw deterioration rather than progress.
The Sahel region has become the global epicenter of terrorism, accounting for 51% of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024—a nearly tenfold increase since 2019. The region recorded over 25,000 conflict-related deaths for the first time in the index’s history, with 3,885 attributed to terrorism.
Despite Burkina Faso remaining the most terrorism-affected country, it experienced a decline in terrorist activity, with attacks dropping by 57% and deaths decreasing by 21% in 2024. However, the country still accounted for one-fifth of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide.
The report also highlights the fragile nature of counterterrorism progress, using Niger as a case study. In 2024, Niger recorded the largest increase in terrorism-related deaths globally, surging by 94% to 930 fatalities. This marks a sharp reversal from 2022 when the country had seen one of the most significant improvements in terrorism impact.
These findings suggest that security gains made in Burkina Faso may be temporary, raising concerns about the long-term stability of the region. The report warns that terrorism is evolving, with new threats emerging and security improvements proving difficult to sustain.
As Nigeria rises in the global terrorism rankings, the report underscores the urgent need for renewed counterterrorism efforts to curb the growing fatalities and mitigate escalating security threats in the region.