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The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, provides a comprehensive assessment of the impact of terrorism across 163 countries, covering nearly the entire global population. The report highlights evolving trends in terrorism and shifting regional dynamics.

About the Global Terrorism Index

• The GTI is an annual report that measures the impact of terrorism using a composite scoring system ranging from 0 (no impact) to 10 (highest impact).
• The index evaluates countries based on indicators such as number of incidents, fatalities, injuries, and property damage, thereby enabling comparative analysis of terrorism trends globally.

Key Findings of GTI 2026

• The 2026 report indicates a decline in global terrorism intensity, with deaths decreasing by around 28% and incidents falling by 22% compared to previous levels.
• However, the geographical concentration of terrorism has shifted significantly. Sub-Saharan Africa has emerged as the epicentre of global terrorism, with six of the ten most affected countries located in the region.
• For the first time, Pakistan ranks as the most impacted country, reflecting rising instability and militant activity. India is placed at 13th position, indicating a moderate but persistent threat environment.
• The report also identifies the most lethal terrorist organisations, including Islamic State (IS), Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Al-Shabaab, which continue to drive global terrorism.

Emerging Trends

The findings reveal a decline in traditional conflict-driven terrorism in some regions, but a simultaneous rise in fragile and conflict-affected states, particularly in Africa.

Terrorism is increasingly linked with political instability, weak governance, and socio-economic vulnerabilities, rather than being confined to specific ideological or geographic zones.

The diffusion of extremist networks and the use of asymmetric tactics continue to pose challenges for global security systems.

Implications for India and Global Security

For India, the ranking underscores the need for continued vigilance against cross-border terrorism and radicalisation threats, while also recognising improvements in internal security mechanisms.

Globally, the shift of terrorism hotspots to new regions calls for reoriented counter-terrorism strategies, greater international cooperation, and capacity building in vulnerable states.

The persistence of major terrorist organisations highlights the need for intelligence sharing, financial tracking, and coordinated global action.