The year 2025 has been marked by an unprecedented level of conflict and violence around the world. According to John Simpson, a renowned war correspondent and head of Global Affairs at the BBC, “I’ve covered about 40 wars but I’ve never seen anything like 2025.” Simpson’s statement is supported by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) Index, which recorded 204,605 conflict events between December 1, 2024, and November 28, 2025, resulting in over 240,000 victims.
The ACLED Index provides a comprehensive overview of the theaters of war on Earth, transforming them into figures. The data reveals that one in four people in the world has been touched by conflict in some way. The number of conflicts reached 56 in June 2025, the highest since the Second World War. Foreign Policy notes that “conflict has increased around the world in recent years, increasing instability and highlighting weaknesses in the international system.” This trend has continued into 2025, with long-running, intractable wars underway in many parts of the world.
There are local, national, and regional conflicts, but three wars have colored the year black: the one in Ukraine, the one in Gaza, and the one in Sudan. The war in Gaza and the West Bank has been the worst in terms of mortality, diffusion, and risk percentage, according to the ACLED Index. Palestine is considered the site of the “most dangerous conflict in the world,” with every Palestinian exposed to violent events. Ukraine and Mexico are also considered among the most dangerous countries on the planet in terms of violent events.
In Ukraine, UN estimates from November 2025 reported over 12,000 civilian victims, a 27% increase compared to 2024. Russian military losses have also been significant, with 350,000 soldiers killed, a 40% increase from the previous year. The civil war in Sudan, which started in April 2023, has resulted in an estimated 150,000 deaths and over 12 million internally displaced people. The number of refugees in neighboring countries has exceeded 4 million.
Other theaters of war in 2025 include Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, which have been hit by Israeli and US attacks. The border between India and Pakistan and that between Thailand and Cambodia have also seen significant conflict. Burma is the scene of the most fragmented conflict, with over 1,200 armed groups operating in the country. The ACLED Index Report also highlights countries marked by political violence, including Haiti and Ecuador. Nigeria has seen an escalation in ISIS attacks, culminating in US raids on jihadist positions in the north of the country.
The conflicts of the future, those that could make 2026 even darker, are also a concern. Donald Trump’s anti-drug raids in the Caribbean Sea and his goal of toppling the Venezuelan regime of Nicolas Maduro could increase the scope of world conflicts. Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador are all at risk of escalating violence. As the world enters a new year, it is essential to understand the complexities of these conflicts and the potential consequences of inaction. For more information, visit Here