Throughout the history, many political leaders have been victims of targeted violence. On July 8, 2022, the former prime minister of Japan Shinzo Abe was shot in Nara while giving a speech. The assassin, who was arrested at the crime scene, believed that the ex-prime minister was part of an organization that he resented.
High number of assassinations during the Cold War
The number of assassinations peaked in the 1970s, partly because of power struggles in former colonies. Many of the leaders assassinated were killed in coup d'etats. Some of the most known names on the list include the two former U.S. presidents William McCarthey and John F. Kennedy, former Russian Tsar of Russia Nicholas II, and the former Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi.
Long-ruling state leaders
Some state leaders hold on to their power for decades, amd survive several coup attempts. Since 1900, Fidel Castro, who ruled Cuba for over 50 years, was the longest ruling non-royal leader. Of the current state leaders, Paul Biya in Cameroon holds the record for the longest ruling leader.
Political leaders and figures assassinated worldwide, from 1900 to September 2023
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The Economic Times, & Eurasia Group, & Wikipedia. (September 25, 2023). Political leaders and figures assassinated worldwide, from 1900 to September 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319337/politicians-assassinated-globally/
The Economic Times, und Eurasia Group, und Wikipedia. "Political leaders and figures assassinated worldwide, from 1900 to September 2023." Chart. September 25, 2023. Statista. Accessed November 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319337/politicians-assassinated-globally/
The Economic Times, Eurasia Group, Wikipedia. (2023). Political leaders and figures assassinated worldwide, from 1900 to September 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319337/politicians-assassinated-globally/
The Economic Times, and Eurasia Group, and Wikipedia. "Political Leaders and Figures Assassinated Worldwide, from 1900 to September 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 25 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319337/politicians-assassinated-globally/
The Economic Times & Eurasia Group & Wikipedia, Political leaders and figures assassinated worldwide, from 1900 to September 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319337/politicians-assassinated-globally/ (last visited November 21, 2024)
Political leaders and figures assassinated worldwide, from 1900 to September 2023 [Graph], The Economic Times, & Eurasia Group, & Wikipedia, September 25, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319337/politicians-assassinated-globally/
