Nigeria has ranked fourth in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) following a 43 per cent increase in terror attacks compared to 2024.
Pakistan topped the index, with Burkina Faso in second place and the Niger Republic in third position.
The GTI, which assesses the impact of terrorism across countries, was released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), a non-profit think tank based in Sydney, Australia.
According to the report, Nigeria recorded 171 terror incidents in 2025, up from 120 in 2024.
Nigeria moved up two places in the ranking, rising from sixth position in 2024 to fourth in 2025.
The report identified Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram as the groups responsible for the majority of attacks in the country.
Civilians were the primary targets, accounting for 67 per cent of the attacks, while military personnel accounted for 19 per cent.
“In 2025, Nigeria rose two places in the index, reflecting the significant increase of terrorist activity in the country,” the report stated.
“Terror attacks in Nigeria increased by 43 per cent this year, from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025.
“Deaths from terrorism have continued to rise, increasing by 46 per cent to 750 in 2025. This marks the highest death toll since 2020, driven by internal instability as well as ongoing conflict between ISWAP and Boko Haram.
“Together, fatalities attributed to these groups accounted for 80 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths in the country in 2025.
“Terrorist activity this year was heavily concentrated in the northeastern state of Borno, which experienced 67 per cent of attacks and 72 per cent of deaths in 2025.
“Civilians continued to be the most targeted group in 2025, accounting for 67 per cent of fatalities, while military forces represented 19 per cent.
“This percentage has been steadily increasing over the last five years, highlighting a clear shift in terrorist targeting patterns in the country.”
The report added that 750 people were killed and 243 injured in the 171 attacks recorded in Nigeria in 2025, bringing the total number of deaths from terrorism in the country to 12,581 since 2007.