Conflict & Terrorism
Global mortality data, country rankings, and trends for Conflict & Terrorism from 1990 to 2021.
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Conflict & Terrorism is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. This page presents data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Global Burden of Disease Study, showing mortality trends, country rankings, and regional patterns. Understanding the epidemiology of conflict & terrorism helps inform public health interventions and resource allocation.
This data is sourced from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, processed via Our World in Data. Values represent each cause's share of total deaths (%) unless otherwise noted. Explore related mortality data using the links below.
Armed conflict and terrorism cause tens of thousands of direct deaths annually, with massive additional indirect mortality from health system destruction, displacement, malnutrition, and disease outbreaks. Direct conflict deaths vary enormously by year, from under 20,000 in relatively peaceful periods to well over 100,000 during intense conflicts (Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia, Ukraine). Civilian populations bear the majority of the burden in modern armed conflicts. The indirect health effects of conflict — including interrupted vaccination programmes, collapsed water and sanitation systems, and disrupted chronic disease management — often exceed direct combat casualties by a factor of three to fifteen. Conflict also drives massive forced displacement: over 100 million people were forcibly displaced by 2022, creating protracted refugee situations where health outcomes are compromised for decades. Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South Asia have experienced the greatest conflict mortality burden in the 21st century.
Across 182 countries, conflict & terrorism accounts for an average of 0.6% of total deaths. Regional disparities are substantial: Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan has the highest regional average at 2.9%, while South Asia records the lowest at 0.0% — a 81.8-fold difference that underscores the geographic inequality in conflict & terrorism mortality burden.
Conflict prevention encompasses diplomatic, development, and governance approaches. Protecting healthcare facilities and workers under international humanitarian law is critical. Health system resilience — decentralised care, supply chain redundancy, and rapid-response capacity — reduces indirect conflict mortality. Humanitarian corridors for medical access, vaccination campaigns during ceasefires, and mental health support for affected populations are evidence-based responses. Long-term peacebuilding requires addressing root causes: inequality, resource competition, governance failures, and ethnic or sectarian tensions.