Pakistan Tops Global Terrorism Index 2026, Declared Most Dangerous Country
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Pakistan has emerged as the most dangerous country in the world from terrorism perspective, according to the latest report by the Institute for Economics & Peace in its Global Terrorism Index 2026.
As per the report, Pakistan recorded the highest number of deaths due to terrorist attacks in 2025, overtaking Burkina Faso, which had held the top position earlier. With a score of 8.57, Pakistan replaced Burkina Faso as the country most impacted by terrorism.
Rising Death Toll and Attacks
The report states that terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan rose by nearly 6% in 2025, reaching 1,139 fatalities. This is the sixth consecutive year Pakistan saw an increase in terrorism deaths. However, there was a slight drop in the total number of terror attacks, from 1,098 in 2024 down to 1,045 in 2025, the report states. This is the highest number of terrorist attacks and fatalities in Pakistan over the past decade.
Pakistan Ranked Number One
With these figures, Pakistan has been ranked number one globally in terms of terrorism impact, reinforcing its position as the most affected and dangerous nation in the latest index. The country has consistently remained in the top ten for several years, but 2025 pushed it to the top spot. The report highlights a sharp rise in terror activities over the past few years. Compared to 2020, the number of attacks in Pakistan has increased sixtimes, showing a significant deterioration in the security situation.
TTP Emerges as Biggest Threat
The greatest threat came from the radical group Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The group has reportedly set up bases in neighbouring Afghanistan, increasing cross-border terrorism.
As a result, the Pakistan-Afghanistan border sees more terrorist activity than anywhere else in the world. In 2025, "the TTP accounted for 56% of terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan. They carried out 595 attacks, resulting in 637 deaths, an increase of 13% from the 555 deaths in the preceding year," the report says.
Where other countries stand
The 2026 Global Terrorism Index shows that most of the countries most affected by terrorism are in Africa, including Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some Asian countries also appear in the top 10, such as Syria at 6th place, Cambodia at 9th, and Israel at 10th. Afghanistan is just outside the top 10 at 11th position, while India is ranked 13th, followed by Myanmar.
As per the report, India has a score of 6.43, with the country recording more than 142 terror-related incidents, more than 100 fatalities, and 118 injuries in 2025.
According to the Global Terrorism Index 2026, the Islamic State (IS) and its related groups were the deadliest in the world, carrying out nearly 17% of all terror attacks.
In 2025, the four most dangerous terrorist groups were IS, Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and al-Shabaab. Together, they caused about 3,869 deaths, which made up around 70% of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide.
The Global Terrorism Index is a comprehensive study analysing the impact of terrorism for 163 countries covering 99.7 per cent of the world’s population. It is published annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace, a Sydney-based international think tank established in 2007.