Nigeria has been ranked the fourth most terrorism-affected country in 2025, placing ahead of Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2026 released by the Institute for Economics and Peace on Thursday, March 19.
The report identified Nigeria as the Sahel nation with the highest number of terrorism-related deaths and incidents during the year. It also revealed that 70 percent of global terror-related fatalities in 2025 occurred across five countries: Nigeria, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Pakistan.
Pakistan ranked first on the list of most affected countries, followed by Burkina Faso in second place, Niger Republic in third, and Nigeria in fourth.
The report noted that the majority of attacks in Nigeria were carried out by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram.
“Just under 70 per cent of de@ths from terrorism occurred in only five countries: Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),” the report states.
“Nigeria recorded the largest increase in 2025, with fatalities rising by 46 per cent to 750. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram were responsible for 80 per cent of all terrorism deaths in the country.
“Five countries in the Sahel recorded falls in both the number of deaths and incidents from the previous year. Nigeria is the only country in the region to experience an increase in both categories.”
According to the report, terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria rose by 237 in 2025 compared to the previous year, representing a 13 percent increase. Within the same period, 243 people were injured and 171 incidents were recorded.
“Nigeria recorded the largest increase and has experienced a steady rise in terrorism-related d£aths since 2022, recording 237 more fatalities in 2025 than in 2024,” the report stated.
“The increase in terrorist activity comes amidst a surge in both ideological and criminal violence in the country. ISWAP and Boko Haram were responsible for 82.8 per cent of all terrorism d£aths in the country in 2025. The rise in Islamic State activity led to US-backed strikes on the group in northwestern Nigeria in late 2025.”
The report further highlighted that Nigeria has consistently appeared on the global terrorism index since 2011, with civilians increasingly becoming the primary targets of such attacks.
