Nigeria has been ranked as the fourth most terrorised country in 2025 ahead of Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace on Thursday, March 19, shows that Nigeria is the Sahel country with the most terror deaths and incidents in 2025.
According to GTI, 70 per cent of terror deaths in 2025 occurred in Nigeria, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Pakistan.
Top on the ranking of the most terrorised country in the world is Pakistan, second most terrorised country is Burkina Faso, Niger Republic is the third, and Nigeria follows as the fourth.
Nigeria emerges 4th most terrorised country in the world ahead of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan
The GTI disclosed that most of the terror attacks in Nigeria are perpetrated by members of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram.
“Just under 70 per cent of deaths 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.”
The GTI stated that there were 237 more terror deaths recorded in 2025 than in the year before, which is a 13 per cent increase. In the timeframe, 243 people were injured and 171 incidents were recorded.
“Nigeria recorded the largest increase and has experienced a steady rise in terrorism‑related deaths since 2022, recording 237 more fatalities in 2025 than in 2024,” the report stated.
Nigeria emerges 4th most terrorised country in the world ahead of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan
“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 also showed that Nigeria has appeared on the index of countries affected by terrorism every year since 2011, and civilians have become the most targeted group.
