Conflict Trends: A Global Overview, 1946–2024

The report identifies 2024 as the year with the highest number of state-based conflicts since 1946, with 61 conflicts across 36 countries. While the total number of battle-related deaths in 2024 (approximately 129,000) was similar to 2023, it remains the fourth most violent year since 1989, driven primarily by wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Ethiopia's Tigray region. The paper notes a growing complexity in conflict dynamics, where a higher share of conflict-affected countries now host multiple simultaneous conflicts. Non-state conflicts decreased slightly to 74 in 2024, with Africa becoming the region with the highest number of such conflicts. One-sided violence increased to 14,000 fatalities in 2024, with non-state actors responsible for the majority of deaths, although 14 governments also perpetrated such violence.

• In 2024, the number of state-based conflicts reached 61 across 36 countries, marking the highest number of such conflicts recorded since 1946.
• The year 2024 was the fourth most violent year since 1989, with approximately 129,000 battle-related deaths. This high toll was primarily driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine (approximately 76,000 deaths) and the war in Gaza (approximately 26,000 deaths in 2023).
• There is a trend of increasing conflict complexity, characterized by a widening gap between the number of conflicts and the number of affected countries. In 2024, over half of conflict-affected countries experienced more than one conflict, and nine countries faced three or more.
• Interstate wars—conflicts between states—are increasing, with four recorded in 2024, the highest number since 1987. These included conflicts involving Russia–Ukraine, Iran–Israel, UK/USA–Yemen, and Pakistan–Afghanistan.
• Non-state conflicts decreased from 80 in 2023 to 74 in 2024, resulting in approximately 17,500 battle-related deaths. Africa became the region with the highest number of non-state conflicts (37), while the Americas saw a decrease from 41 to 29.
• Fatalities from one-sided violence rose to 14,000 in 2024. Non-state actors were the primary perpetrators, causing 10,300 fatalities, while government actors caused 3,400 fatalities.

APA

Rustad, S. A. (2025). Conflict Trends: A Global Overview, 1946–2024. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/31b69202-0728-4852-94e9-a08bdf662fe9/Rustad - Conflict Trends 1946-2024 - PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Rustad, Siri Aas. Conflict Trends: A Global Overview, 1946–2024. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2025. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/31b69202-0728-4852-94e9-a08bdf662fe9/Rustad - Conflict Trends 1946-2024 - PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rustad |first1=Siri Aas |title=Conflict Trends: A Global Overview, 1946–2024 |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2025 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/31b69202-0728-4852-94e9-a08bdf662fe9/Rustad - Conflict Trends 1946-2024 - PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rustad2025conflict, author = {Rustad, Siri Aas}, title = {{Conflict Trends: A Global Overview, 1946–2024}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2025}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/31b69202-0728-4852-94e9-a08bdf662fe9/Rustad - Conflict Trends 1946-2024 - PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }