Deadliest Terrorist Attacks in 2024
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Terrorism remains a pressing issue globally, with the number of countries recording a terrorist incident increasing from 58 to 66 last year.
This map visualizes the locations and number of deaths of the 20 most deadly terrorist attacks in 2024.
The data comes from the Institute for Economics & Peace.
Defining Terrorism
The Institute for Economics & Peace follows the Global Terrorism Database’s definition of terrorism, which is “the threatened or actual use of illegal force and violence by a state and non-state actor to attain a political, economic, religious, or social goal through fear, coercion, or intimidation.”
The Global Terrorism Database’s definition also includes the following criteria:
- The violent act was aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal;
- The violent act included evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) other than the immediate victims; and
- The violent act was outside the precepts of International Humanitarian Law.
Defining terrorism is a complex and contested issue, with governments and scholars often disagreeing on specific elements, such as whether victims must be non-combatants or if a political motive is required
Where Were the Deadliest Terrorist Attacks in 2024?
Below, we show the location, number of deaths, and details of the 20 most deadly terrorist attacks in 2024.
| Rank | Country | Province/Region | Group | Deaths | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Niger |
Tahoua | Jihadist (Undetermined) | 237 | Over 300 assailants killed 237 soldiers near Tandakaden town, Tahoua region. |
| 2 |  Burkina Faso |
Centre-Nord | JNIM | 200 | At least 200 civilians killed in Barsalogho. JNIM claimed responsibility. |
| 3 | Burkina Faso |
Sahel | JNIM | 170 | 110 soldiers and 60 civilians killed in Mansila, Yagha. JNIM claimed responsibility. |
| 4 |  Russia |
Moscow City | Islamic State – Khorasan Province | 144 | 144 killed, 551 wounded at a concert hall. IS-K claimed responsibility. |
| 5 | Niger |
Tillabéri | Jihadist (Undetermined) | 138 | 91 soldiers and 47 civilians killed in Chatouname, Tera department. |
| 6 | Burkina Faso |
Est | Jihadist (Undetermined) | 100 | At least 100 killed in Kpadiari, Nadiagou, and Tiangoumbi. |
| 7 |  Nigeria |
Yobe | Boko Haram | 100 | 150 gunmen attacked a market in Tamvau, killing 100–150. |
| 8 |  Iran |
Kerman | Islamic State – Khorasan Province | 95 | Twin blasts near Soleimani’s memorial killed 95. IS-K claimed responsibility. |
| 9 | Nigeria |
Borno | Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) | 85 | ISWA attacked Boko Haram in Lake Chad area; 85 dead. |
| 10 | Burkina Faso |
Nord | JNIM | 70 | 70 civilians killed in Goubre commune by 150 assailants. |
| 11 | Burkina Faso |
Est | Jihadist (Undetermined) | 70 | Several hundred gunmen attacked a security camp in Partiaga. |
| 12 |  Mali |
Bamako | JNIM | 60 | 60 soldiers killed in attack on a Gendarmerie school. |
| 13 |  Syria |
Homs | Islamic State (IS) | 54 | 54 regime soldiers killed near Kaziyia in Al-Sukhna area. |
| 14 | Burkina Faso |
Est | Jihadist (Undetermined) | 50 | 50 civilians killed and others kidnapped in Galgondini village. |
| 15 | Niger |
Tillabéri | JNIM | 47 | 47 soldiers killed and 18 wounded in Gotheye. JNIM claimed responsibility. |
| 16 | Burkina Faso |
Centre-Est | JNIM | 46 | 46 killed, including security and VDP, in Kogo village. |
| 17 | Burkina Faso |
Centre-Est | JNIM | 45 | 45 police officers killed in Yourkouduguen. JNIM claimed responsibility. |
| 18 | Burkina Faso |
Boucle du Mouhoun | JNIM (suspected) | 45 | 45 civilians killed in Boanékuy village. JNIM possibly responsible. |
| 19 |  DRC |
Nord-Kivu | Islamic State (IS) | 42 | 42 civilians killed in Mayikengo village. IS claimed responsibility. |
| 20 | DRC |
Nord-Kivu | Islamic State (IS) | 41 | 41 civilians killed in multiple villages. IS claimed responsibility. |
The Sahel, a region stretching from Senegal to Eritrea across north-central Africa, is now the world’s most terrorism-affected area. Since 2019, terrorism-related deaths in the region have increased tenfold.
In 2024 alone, the Sahel was responsible for more than half of all terrorism-related fatalities worldwide. Burkina Faso remained the hardest-hit country, accounting for one in five terrorism deaths globally.
According to the Institute for Economics & Peace, this dramatic rise is driven by a mix of factors: political instability, weak governance, ethnic conflicts, porous borders, environmental degradation, the spread of transnational jihadist networks, and increasing geopolitical rivalry.
The four deadliest terrorist groups in 2024 were the Islamic State (IS), Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen (JNIM), Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and al-Shabaab.
JNIM remains the most active group in Burkina Faso, responsible for nearly half of all attacks there last year. Its presence has grown significantly, with both the number of attacks and related deaths rising by over 50% compared to the previous year.
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To learn more about the impacts of terrorist attacks, check out this graphic that lays out the timeline of 9/11, arguably the most consequential terrorist attack in modern history.
The post Mapped: The Deadliest Terrorist Attacks in 2024 appeared first on Visual Capitalist.