Pakistan has climbed to second place in the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025, following a 45% surge in terrorism-related deaths in 2024. According to the latest GTI report by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), 1,081 people lost their lives in terrorist attacks across Pakistan last year, marking a sharp increase compared to 2023.
The report identifies Burkina Faso as the world’s most terrorism-affected country, overtaking nations like Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Yemen.
Pakistan’s terror incidents doubled – The country saw 1,099 terrorist attacks in 2024, compared to 517 in 2023.
Global terrorism on the rise – Terrorism incidents spread across 66 countries, up from 58 the previous year.
Deadliest terror groups escalate attacks – The world’s four most lethal terrorist groups intensified their operations, leading to an 11% rise in global terrorism-related deaths.
Contrasting trends – While terrorism increased in 45 countries, another 45 nations experienced improvements in their security situation.
Top 10 Countries on the Global Terrorism Index 2025
1️⃣ Burkina Faso
2️⃣ Pakistan
3️⃣ Syria
4️⃣ Mali
5️⃣ Niger
6️⃣ Nigeria
7️⃣ Somalia
8️⃣ Israel
9️⃣ Afghanistan
🔟 Cameroon
Pakistan’s high ranking on the GTI underscores a grim reality—the very militant groups the country has been accused of harboring for strategic purposes are now turning against it. Security analysts argue that Pakistan’s long-standing policy of supporting non-state actors for regional influence, particularly against India, has contributed to domestic instability and an unchecked rise in terrorist activity.
The Global Terrorism Index highlights a worrying trend: terrorism is once again on the rise globally, despite years of counterterrorism efforts following the decline of the Islamic State (IS). With Pakistan witnessing a significant increase in attacks, urgent security measures and policy shifts are necessary to prevent further escalation.