Global violence in 2025 surged to highest level since WWII, report finds

Global violence reached a post-World War II high in 2025, with a significant increase in armed conflicts and a dramatic rise in civilian casualties, according to a new report from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).

The report documented 65 conflicts involving states, the highest number recorded since 1945. Interstate conflicts doubled compared to 2024, reaching eight. Researcher Siri Aas Rustad expressed shock at the findings, noting the difficulty in finding optimistic trends. The total number of battle-related deaths reached 245,000, the third highest since the Cold War. Civilian deaths alone surged from 14,200 in 2024 to 76,500, primarily driven by the civil war in Sudan and the massacre in El Fasher, which claimed approximately 60,000 lives.

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shocked

Rustad identified Israel as one of the most aggressive countries due to its involvement in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen. She also implicated the United States, citing its military interventions and trade embargoes that undermine international cooperation, as contributing to the escalation. The report suggests that the UN Security Council is failing, leading to increased global polarization.

Africa remains the most affected continent, with 29 conflicts, followed by Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, and Europe. PRIO's findings paint a grim picture of escalating global instability and the devastating human cost of modern warfare.

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one of the most aggressive countries today