Terrorism: number of deaths worldwide 2020

29,389 people were killed by terrorists in 2020. The number of terrorist attacks worldwide declined between 2006 and 2020. In 2006, about 14,371 terrorist attacks were counted, while in 2020, 10,172 terrorist attacks were counted.

Terrorism is often defined as unlawful violence or systematic use of terror against civilians or politicians for ideological or political reasons, with the intention to create fear. Terrorism is practiced by nationalistic groups, religious groups, revolutionaries and ruling governments.

The fear of terrorism is still instilled in many people's minds. According to Gallup’s survey, which was conducted among adults in the United States in 2013, 34 percent of the participants stated that they were very worried about the possibility of future terrorist attacks. Only 10 percent of the participants said that they were not at all worried.

Number of fatalities due to terrorist attacks worldwide between 2006 and 2020

Characteristic	Number of deaths
2020	29,389
2019	26,273
2018	32,952
2017	18,753
2016	25,722
2015	29,424
2014	32,763
2013	18,066
2012	11,098
2011	12,533
2010	13,186
2009	15,310
2008	15,708
2007	22,719
2006	20,487

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Release date

December 2021

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2006 to 2020

Supplementary notes

Data for previous years can be found here: Country Reports on Terrorism.

Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition. Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for a religious, political or ideological goal, and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians).

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