Global Terrorism Index 2025

Why in News?

According to the recently released 12th Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025, the number of terrorism-affected countries has increased to 66. The rise in global terrorist attacks and the growing trend of lone-wolf attacks in Western countries have raised serious concerns.

What is Global Terrorism Index (GTI)?

The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is an annual report that analyzes the impact and trends of terrorism worldwide. It is published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) and was developed by Steve Killelea, the founder of IEP.

• GTI has been developed in consultation with experts from the Global Peace Index (GPI). This index helps in studying the evolving trends of terrorism and provides policy recommendations to promote global peace.
• To compile this index, the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) is used, which is maintained by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland. This database has documented over 190,000 terrorist incidents since 2000.
• GTI covers 163 countries, representing 99.7% of the world’s population. The index is calculated based on incidents up to the previous year. It ranks countries according to their level of terrorism impact, not just by counting the number of terrorist attacks but also by assessing their impact, casualties, injuries, property damage, and long-term socio-economic consequences.
• GTI creates a composite score by combining various factors, helping to understand and analyze terrorism trends effectively.
• Policymakers, researchers, and security agencies use this data to formulate counter-terrorism policies. Additionally, the index provides a deep understanding of the causes and effects of terrorism, helping in the development of preventive and remedial measures.

Process of Preparing Global Terrorism Index

The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is designed to measure terrorism by ranking countries based on multiple indicators. It thoroughly analyzes the severity of terrorist incidents, their impact, and their psychological effects.

• Definition and Criteria: For an incident to be classified as terrorism in GTI, it must meet three essential conditions. The perpetrators must be non-state actors, meaning state-sponsored terrorism (terrorism funded or supported by governments) is not included in the index.
• Indicators and Scoring System: The GTI scoring system evaluates the impact of terrorism in a country based on four key indicators. Each indicator is assigned a specific weight to assess the comparative impact of terrorism.
• Weighting of Various Factors: GTI assigns the highest weight to the number of deaths caused by terrorist attacks, as it is the most severe consequence. For example: A single death is given a weight of 3. The number of injured victims is weighted at 0.5.
• Five-Year Weighted Average System: GTI does not focus only on current-year events but analyzes data from the past five years to assess the long-term impact of terrorism. More recent incidents are given higher importance, while older data holds progressively lower significance.

Key Findings of Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025

• Data: The GTI 2025 report presents a comprehensive analysis of 17 years of terrorism trends. It ranks 163 countries (representing 99.7% of the world’s population) based on the impact of terrorism. The GTI data is primarily sourced from the Terrorism Tracker and other databases, documenting over 73,000 terrorist incidents to date.
• Top 10 Countries: Burkina Faso (8.581), Pakistan (8.374), Syria (8.006), Mali (7.907), Niger (7.776), Nigeria (7.658), Somalia (7.614), Israel (7.463), Afghanistan (7.262) and Cameroon (6.944).
• Rising Impact of Terrorism: According to the GTI 2025, terrorism continues to rise globally. In 2024, terrorism-related deaths increased by 11%, and the number of countries reporting terrorist incidents rose from 58 to 66. 45 countries experienced worsening terrorism conditions, while only 34 saw an improvement.
• Islamic State (IS): The Islamic State (IS) remained the world’s deadliest terrorist group in 2024, responsible for 1,805 deaths across 22 countries, with 71% of attacks occurring in Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Meanwhile, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-K) has emerged as a growing global threat, carrying out large-scale attacks in Iran and Russia.
• Sahel Region: Africa’s Sahel region has become the most dangerous terrorist hotspot in the world. According to the report, more than half of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide occurred in this region. Multiple terrorist groups operating in Sahel are rapidly expanding their activities, posing a serious threat to international security.
• TTP’s Rapid Growth: The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was the fastest-growing terrorist organization in 2024, with terrorism-related deaths increasing by 90% to 558 deaths. Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in terrorist incidents, significantly impacting its security and stability.
• Youth in Terrorism: In 2024, one in five terrorism suspects arrested in Western countries was under 18 years old. Islamic State-linked arrests in Europe saw the highest number of teenagers involved. In the UK, 42% of the 219 terrorism-related arrests in 2024 were minors.
• Growing Instability:
  • Lone-wolf terrorist attacks have become a major threat in Western nations. In 2024, such attacks increased by 63%, with Europe being the most affected. The number of attacks in Europe doubled to 67.
  • Antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes have surged worldwide. In the US, antisemitic incidents increased by 200% in 2024.
  • Terrorist incidents in the Middle East decreased by 7%, but the Israel-Palestine conflict has caused renewed instability in the region.
  • Technological Adaptation: IS-K has expanded its propaganda campaigns using AI-enhanced videos, encrypted communication, and multilingual online magazines. Additionally, terrorist groups are increasingly using cryptocurrency and encrypted messaging platforms for fundraising and coordination.

India’s Position in Global Terrorism Index 2025

According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025, India ranks 14th among the most terrorism-affected countries. However, India’s position is better compared to some of its neighbors—Bangladesh ranks 35th, and China ranks 49th.

• India has long faced the challenge of terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism, which remains one of the country’s biggest security threats. 
• Terrorist activities in India are not limited to one region but appear in various forms across different parts of the country:
  • Jammu & Kashmir: Islamic terrorist organizations are active in the region, receiving financial and logistical support from across the border.
  • Punjab: Separatist ideologies are resurfacing, potentially leading to an increase in terrorist activities.
  • Northeastern States: Insurgent groups in Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur are running separatist movements.
  • Naxal-Affected Areas: Left-wing extremism (Maoist terrorism) in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra remains a serious internal security challenge.
  • External Support for Terrorist Groups: Many terrorist organizations operating in India receive external funding and logistical assistance.
  • Radicalization of Youth: Terrorist groups exploit unemployment and poverty to recruit young individuals, fueling the spread of terrorism.

India’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy

India has been dealing with various forms of terrorism for decades. To combat it, the government has adopted a comprehensive approach, including legal, intelligence, technological, and international cooperation.

• Legal Framework: India has enacted several strict anti-terrorism laws and has amended older laws as necessary:
  • Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA): This law has been strengthened to take action against individual terrorists, in addition to terrorist organizations.
  • National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (NIA Act): This act led to the formation of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which plays a key role in terrorism-related investigations and prosecutions.
  • Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA): This law has been reinforced to crack down on terrorism financing.
  • Crypto & Financial Monitoring: With the rise of digital transactions, authorities have increased surveillance on cryptocurrency-based terror funding and underground financial networks.
• Intelligence Agencies: Various security and intelligence agencies play a crucial role in counter-terrorism efforts:
  • National Investigation Agency (NIA): Leads investigations and prosecutions of terrorism cases.
  • Intelligence Bureau (IB) & Research and Analysis Wing (RAW): Monitor domestic and international terrorist activities.
  • State Police Forces & Paramilitary Units: Have been strengthened to prevent terror attacks and maintain local security. Special Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATS) and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been set up at the state level.
• Cybersecurity: Terrorist organizations are misusing modern technology for recruitment and propaganda. To counter this, India has taken several measures:
  • AI-based surveillance systems are being developed to detect suspicious online activities.
  • Authorities are closely monitoring social media and the dark web to prevent the spread of radical ideologies.
• International Cooperation: India recognizes terrorism as a global threat and actively engages in international efforts to combat it.
• • India-USA Counter-Terrorism Partnership: India and the United States collaborate on intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism strategies.
  • India-Israel Defense & Intelligence Cooperation: Israel provides advanced technology and intelligence support to strengthen India’s counter-terrorism capabilities.
  • Regional Cooperation (SAARC & BIMSTEC): India works closely with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other neighbors to conduct joint anti-terrorism operations.
  • United Nations & Global Initiatives: India is an active member of the UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism and contributes to global efforts to curb terror financing.

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