In 2020, by far the highest number of fatalities in terrorist attacks worldwide were killed by Taliban. In total, nearly 9,000 people lost their lives in attacks by the organization based in Afghanistan. Boko Haram, the group responsible for the second highest number of fatalities, killed close to 1,900 victims, followed by Al Shabaab with 880 fatalities. Taliban was also the organization that committed the highest number of attacks in 2020.
Number of fatalities due to terrorist attacks worldwide in 2020, by responsible terrorist group
Characteristic
Number of attacks
Taliban
8,987
Boko Haram
1,898
Al-Shabaab
882
Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)
834
Houthi extremists (Ansar Allah)
820
Samri militia
766
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
727
Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)
724
Central Africa Province of the Islamic State
572
Muslim extremists*
562
Fulani extremists*
425
Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO)
417
New People's Army (NPA)
111
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Number of attacks8,9878,9871,8981,89888288283483482082076676672772772472457257256256242542541741711111111TalibanBoko HaramAl-ShabaabTigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)Houthi extremists (Ansar Allah)Samri militiaIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)Central Africa Province of the Islamic StateMuslim extremists*Fulani extremists*Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO)New People's Army (NPA)Conspiracy theory extremists*
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National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. (July 6, 2022). Number of fatalities due to terrorist attacks worldwide in 2020, by responsible terrorist group [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/517683/ten-most-violent-terrorist-groups-2015-by-number-of-attacks/
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. "Number of fatalities due to terrorist attacks worldwide in 2020, by responsible terrorist group." Chart. July 6, 2022. Statista. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/517683/ten-most-violent-terrorist-groups-2015-by-number-of-attacks/
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. (2022). Number of fatalities due to terrorist attacks worldwide in 2020, by responsible terrorist group. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 19, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/517683/ten-most-violent-terrorist-groups-2015-by-number-of-attacks/
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. "Number of Fatalities Due to Terrorist Attacks Worldwide in 2020, by Responsible Terrorist Group." Statista, Statista Inc., 6 Jul 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/517683/ten-most-violent-terrorist-groups-2015-by-number-of-attacks/
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, Number of fatalities due to terrorist attacks worldwide in 2020, by responsible terrorist group Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/517683/ten-most-violent-terrorist-groups-2015-by-number-of-attacks/ (last visited February 19, 2025)
Number of fatalities due to terrorist attacks worldwide in 2020, by responsible terrorist group [Graph], National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, July 6, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/517683/ten-most-violent-terrorist-groups-2015-by-number-of-attacks/
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