The latest Global Guardian Terror Index shows that terrorism’s strongest impact now falls on countries across Africa and Asia, while several major economies in Europe and North America continue to face a steady high threat.
The index ranks nations from low to extreme, based on how often attacks occur and how severe they are. In this year’s map, Sudan, Somalia, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo sit among the hardest hit. Across Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, and Syria fall into the same extreme group. Violence in these regions has stayed constant, with incidents involving explosives, shootings, and kidnappings recorded in the global terrorism database.
Some parts of Latin America also show persistent trouble. Colombia and Mexico remain affected by armed violence that often resembles insurgent activity. These internal conflicts continue to challenge local security forces and political stability.
Africa and Asia dominate the top of the scale, but several Western nations remain one level lower. Germany, France, Austria, and the United Kingdom appear under the “high impact” category, similar to the United States, Russia, and Australia. Many of these incidents come from lone attackers driven by ideological or extremist motives rather than organized networks. The pattern shows how digital spaces can amplify radical ideas even in countries with strong institutions.
The Middle East, once the center of global terrorism, shows limited improvement. Iraq and Libya have moved from extreme to high risk, signaling a reduction in large-scale militant control. Yet the threat hasn’t disappeared, only shifted. The Sahel, particularly Burkina Faso and Niger, now represents a growing front where armed groups move easily across borders and take advantage of weak governance.
At the other end of the scale, a handful of places remain relatively calm. The report lists much of Southern and Central Africa, parts of Central America, and some areas in Central Asia as low risk. These countries have reported no successful terror attacks in at least eight years, according to Global Guardian’s data. Still, they are exceptions in a world where threats spread unevenly.
The 2026 index offers a clear message. Terrorism is changing shape, not disappearing. Its movement from the Middle East into Africa reflects how fragile states and power vacuums keep fueling new fronts of instability.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
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The index ranks nations from low to extreme, based on how often attacks occur and how severe they are. In this year’s map, Sudan, Somalia, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo sit among the hardest hit. Across Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, and Syria fall into the same extreme group. Violence in these regions has stayed constant, with incidents involving explosives, shootings, and kidnappings recorded in the global terrorism database.
Some parts of Latin America also show persistent trouble. Colombia and Mexico remain affected by armed violence that often resembles insurgent activity. These internal conflicts continue to challenge local security forces and political stability.
Africa and Asia dominate the top of the scale, but several Western nations remain one level lower. Germany, France, Austria, and the United Kingdom appear under the “high impact” category, similar to the United States, Russia, and Australia. Many of these incidents come from lone attackers driven by ideological or extremist motives rather than organized networks. The pattern shows how digital spaces can amplify radical ideas even in countries with strong institutions.
The Middle East, once the center of global terrorism, shows limited improvement. Iraq and Libya have moved from extreme to high risk, signaling a reduction in large-scale militant control. Yet the threat hasn’t disappeared, only shifted. The Sahel, particularly Burkina Faso and Niger, now represents a growing front where armed groups move easily across borders and take advantage of weak governance.
At the other end of the scale, a handful of places remain relatively calm. The report lists much of Southern and Central Africa, parts of Central America, and some areas in Central Asia as low risk. These countries have reported no successful terror attacks in at least eight years, according to Global Guardian’s data. Still, they are exceptions in a world where threats spread unevenly.
The 2026 index offers a clear message. Terrorism is changing shape, not disappearing. Its movement from the Middle East into Africa reflects how fragile states and power vacuums keep fueling new fronts of instability.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
Read next:
• AI and Search Top Gen Alpha’s Digital Habits, While Social Media Plays a Smaller Role
• YouTube Deletes Palestinian Rights Videos, Complying with U.S. Sanctions that Shield Israel
