Conflicts around the world saw a dramatic rise in 2024, with political violence increasing by 25% compared to 2023, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), an NGO that tracks global conflicts. ACLED’s data highlights Ukraine and Palestine as the two primary global hotspots of violence.
The organization estimates that 223,000 people were killed in conflicts in 2024, with one in eight people worldwide exposed to violence. Over the last five years, global conflicts have doubled in intensity, with a notable surge in casualties.
Another study by the International Institute for International Studies (IIIS) found a 37% increase in deaths from armed conflicts in the year leading up to June 2024. ACLED further reported that “Palestine is the most conflict-ridden country in the world” and “the Middle East is the most affected region.” These findings are based on indicators such as the deadliness, danger, diffusion, and fragmentation of armed conflicts.
The data indicates that 81% of Palestine’s population is exposed to conflict, with 35,000 fatalities recorded over the past year. On average, 52 conflict incidents occur daily in Palestinian territories. Since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted in October 2023, the UN estimates that over 45,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza, while ACLED’s data puts the toll in Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, at over 50,000.
The war in Ukraine remains the deadliest ongoing conflict globally, while Myanmar, which has been embroiled in internal strife since the 2021 military coup, has seen the highest number of armed groups. Currently, about 50 countries are experiencing active conflicts.
In addition to Ukraine and Palestine, other regions are showing signs of vulnerability. ACLED’s Conflict Watchlist for 2025 identifies Mexico, Colombia, Pakistan, Sudan, the Sahel, and the Great Lakes region of Africa as areas that may face escalating tensions in the coming year. Other locations on the watchlist include Myanmar, Ukraine, Iran and its allies, Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
The UN forecasts that 305 million people will need humanitarian aid in 2025, driven largely by ongoing conflicts. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies warns that humanitarian needs in regions like Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan, and Ukraine are likely to remain severely underfunded, despite international obligations to provide aid under humanitarian law.
