Context
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026 is the 12th edition of the annual report published by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). It provides a comprehensive assessment of the impact of terrorism across countries by analysing trends in terrorist incidents, deaths, injuries, hostages, and property damage.
The Index serves as an important global benchmark for understanding the evolving nature of terrorism, identifying emerging hotspots, and informing counter-terrorism strategies.
About the Global Terrorism Index (GTI)
- Published annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), an independent international think tank headquartered in Sydney, Australia.
- Measures the impact of terrorism, not merely the number of attacks.
- Covers 163 countries, representing over 99% of the world’s population.
- Uses data primarily from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) maintained by the University of Maryland, along with other verified sources.
- Provides both global and regional assessments of terrorism trends.
Methodology
The GTI assigns a score to each country based on the impact of terrorism over a five-year period, with recent incidents receiving greater weight.
The Index considers four major indicators:
- Number of terrorist incidents.
- Number of fatalities.
- Number of injuries.
- Number of hostages/kidnappings.
These indicators are weighted according to their severity, frequency and long-term impact to produce a composite score.
Global Trends in GTI 2026
Declining Global Terrorism
- Global terrorism continues its long-term decline in terms of total deaths compared to the peak witnessed during the rise of ISIS in the mid-2010s.
- However, terrorism remains geographically concentrated and increasingly complex.
Expansion into New Regions
- While conflict zones remain major centres of terrorism, attacks have increasingly spread to regions previously considered relatively secure.
- The Sahel region of Africa has emerged as the global epicentre of terrorism.
Rise of Lone-Actor and Small-Cell Attacks
- Many countries are witnessing an increase in attacks carried out by self-radicalised individuals or small autonomous groups.
- Online radicalisation and encrypted digital platforms continue to facilitate extremist recruitment.
Increasing Role of Technology
Terrorist organisations are increasingly exploiting:
- Social media.
- Encrypted communication platforms.
- Artificial Intelligence.
- Cryptocurrency.
- Drones.
- Cyber capabilities.
- Online propaganda.
Major Findings of GTI 2026
Sahel Remains the Global Epicentre
Countries in the Sahel continue to account for the largest share of terrorism-related deaths globally due to political instability, weak governance and the expansion of extremist organisations.
Islamic State (IS) Remains Active
Although territorially defeated, ISIS and its affiliates continue to conduct attacks across:
- Africa
- West Asia
- South Asia
through decentralised networks.
Growing Influence of Regional Terror Groups
Several regional extremist organisations have expanded their operational capabilities by exploiting local conflicts, ethnic tensions and governance deficits.
Terrorism and Armed Conflict
Most terrorism-related deaths continue to occur in countries experiencing armed conflict, civil wars or political instability, highlighting the close relationship between terrorism and fragile state institutions.
India’s Performance
- India continues to face terrorism primarily in the form of cross-border terrorism, insurgency and Left Wing Extremism (LWE).
- However, the long-term trend indicates a decline in terrorism-related fatalities, reflecting sustained counter-terrorism operations, improved intelligence coordination and enhanced border management.
- Security conditions have improved significantly in several insurgency-affected regions, although challenges remain in certain areas.
Major Security Challenges
- Cross-border terrorism.
- Radicalisation through online platforms.
- Left Wing Extremism.
- Terror financing.
- Drone-based infiltration and smuggling.
- Emerging cyber-enabled terrorist activities.
India’s Counter-Terrorism Framework
Institutional Mechanisms
- National Investigation Agency (NIA)
- Multi Agency Centre (MAC)
- National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)
- Intelligence Bureau (IB)
- Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)
Legal Framework
- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA)
- National Investigation Agency Act, 2008
- Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002
International Cooperation
India actively cooperates through:
- United Nations counter-terrorism mechanisms.
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
- INTERPOL.
- Bilateral intelligence-sharing agreements.
- Regional security partnerships.
Significance of the GTI
- Provides a global assessment of terrorism trends.
- Helps governments identify emerging security threats.
- Supports evidence-based counter-terrorism policies.
- Assists researchers in analysing patterns of violent extremism.
- Highlights the relationship between conflict, governance and terrorism.
- Encourages international cooperation against transnational terrorism.
Limitations
- Measures the impact of terrorism rather than the overall security environment.
- Dependent on the availability and quality of reported data.
- Rankings may not fully capture covert or prevented terrorist activities.
- Does not directly assess state-sponsored terrorism or broader geopolitical factors.
Way Forward
- Strengthen international intelligence sharing.
- Enhance financial surveillance to curb terror financing.
- Counter online radicalisation through technological and community-based interventions.
- Improve border management and maritime security.
- Address governance deficits and socio-economic drivers of extremism.
- Build resilience against emerging threats such as AI-enabled propaganda, drones and cyber-terrorism.
- Promote multilateral cooperation through the UN and FATF.
