The Institute for Economics and Peace has published the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), which outlines the main trends in global terrorism. While there were declines in both deaths and attacks in 2024, these gains were undermined by the ongoing expansion of terrorism. In 2024, the number of countries experiencing a recorded terrorist incident rose from 58 to 66. Compared to 2023, 45 countries experienced a higher impact from terrorism, while 34 saw improvement.
In 2024, the number of terrorist-related deaths declined to 7,555, which is a 13% decrease from the previous year. However, the GTI Report states that this reduction was solely due to the significant surge in fatalities caused by Hamas’ October 7th attack in the prior year; without this, the number of deaths would have remained roughly unchanged.
Burkina Faso remained the most affected country by terrorism for the second consecutive year, even as attacks decreased by 57%, and fatalities decreased by 21%. The country accounted for one-fifth of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide, with Pakistan and Syria following closely behind. Iran and Russia recorded their highest number of terrorism deaths in a decade, whilst deaths in Myanmar fell from 356 in 2023 to 24 in 2024.
The GTI Report notes that the Sahel region has experienced the sharpest decline in security rankings since 2011. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have consistently remained among the most terrorism-affected nations since 2017. This highlights a shift in the global terrorism epicenter from the Middle East to the Sahel, posing significant challenges to regional stability.
The GTI 2025 notes that the following ten countries are the most impacted by terrorism:
- Burkina Faso
- Pakistan
- Syria
- Mali
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- Israel
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
The findings of GTI 2025 reinforce the urgent need for comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CTF) measures to detect and prevent terrorism financing. Effective measures against terrorist financing are essential to safeguard the global financial system and ensure compliance with international regulations. Businesses are legally required to implement robust AML/CTF frameworks, which take into account terrorism financing risks. MK Compliance is prepared to assist organizations in tackling these challenges and enhancing their safeguards against terrorism financing.
Failing to detect and prevent terrorist-financing risks not only exposes businesses to severe regulatory penalties and reputational damage, but also enables illicit networks to thrive, ultimately threatening national security and economic stability. Strengthening AML/CTF controls is not just a compliance obligation – it is a fundamental responsibility in the fight against financial crime.
For more information, you may contact us at info@compliancemk.com.
Institute for Economics & Peace. Global Terrorism Index 2025: Measuring the Impact of Terrorism, Sydney, March 2025. Available from: http://visionofhumanity.org/resources
