Top 10 Countries Most Affected By Terrorism

Pakistan (8.574): Pakistan topped the index for the first time due to escalating border violence with Afghanistan. Driven by groups like the TTP, the country faced over 1,000 incidents and massive hostage-taking spikes, severely destabilizing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan regions. (Representative Image: Pexels)

 Burkina Faso (8.324): Dropping to second place after consecutive years at the top, Burkina Faso saw a 45 percent decline in total fatalities. However, the country remains highly volatile as localized jihadi groups carry out fewer but significantly deadlier attacks against civilians. (Representative Image: Pexels)

Niger (7.816): Situated in the turbulent tri-border area of the Sahel, Niger battles relentless cross-border incursions by radical insurgent coalitions. Despite some localized counter-terrorism improvements, the presence of active jihadist networks ensures the nation remains a major global terrorism hotspot. (Representative Image: Pexels)

Nigeria (7.792): Nigeria experienced a major 46 percent surge in terrorist fatalities, primarily driven by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram. These groups intensified operations across the Lake Chad Basin, resulting in severe civilian and military casualties. (Representative Image: Pexels)

Mali (7.586): Mali faces persistent, severe security threats stemming from deep-seated regional instability in the Sahel. Militant factions exploit weak governance and porous borders to launch lethal attacks, causing heavy casualties among military forces and rural communities throughout the country. (Representative Image: Pexels)

Syria (7.545): Syria recorded the highest frequency of Islamic State attacks globally. The security landscape remains incredibly fragile due to fragmented territorial control, geopolitical proxy conflicts, and mass prison breaks of radical fighters, allowing insurgent cells to persistently destabilize the region. (Representative Image: Pexels)

Somalia (7.391): Al-Shabaab continues to be the dominant threat in Somalia, maintaining an aggressive insurgency despite ongoing military offensives. The group routinely deploys mass-casualty suicide bombings and ambushes, targeting state infrastructure and international peacekeeping forces to undermine the federal government. (Representative Image: Pexels)

Democratic Republic of the Congo (7.171): The DRC reached its worst-ever index position as terror-related deaths climbed by nearly 28 percent. The IS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) systematically terrorized eastern provinces, targeting vulnerable civilian infrastructure including villages, churches, medical facilities, and funeral gatherings. (Representative Image: Pexels)

Colombia (7.116): Entering the top ten for the first time since 2013, Colombia suffered a 70 percent spike in terror-related fatalities. This resurgence is primarily propelled by violent dissident factions of FARC and the ELN fighting over lucrative illicit economies. (Representative Image: Pexels)

Israel (6.79): Israel rounds out the top ten, heavily impacted by ongoing regional warfare, severe cross-border hostilities, and persistent high-stakes security threats from entrenched, hostile militant organizations. (Representative Image: Pexels)

Meanwhile, India moved up two places in the rankings and is now placed 13th on the Global Terrorism Index with a score of 6.428. India accounted only 2 per cent of global terrorism deaths. (Representative Image: Pexels)