The map above shows global terrorist attacks with more than 20 fatalities over the last 15 years.
While there have been several tragic attacks in Europe and North America, it’s the people of Asia, Africa and especially the Middle-East who have been the primary victims.
In 2014, deaths from terrorism increased by 80% from 2013, with a total of 32,658 victims.
78% of all deaths and 57% of all attacks occurred in just five countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria. With Iraq continuing to be the country most impacted by terrorism with 9,929 terrorist fatalities, the highest ever recorded in a single country.
To understand the timeline of these attacks watch the time-lapse video below:
The data for the map and video come from the Global Terrorism database and various media outlets.
Mr. Vuckovic notes that:
due to the large amount of data used, there are likely to be mistakes (exact chronology, location, casualties etc.). This video should serve as an approximation. (Especcially in the messy parts.)
Typical error would be: GTD had sometimes the “at least” casualties in the database. Istanbul Bombings from 2003 are not present on the map because of this. I also used different definitions of terrorism regarding the area and time of attacks.
You can learn more about global terrorism from the following books:
- The Great War of Our Time: The CIA’s Fight Against Terrorism–From al Qa’ida to ISIS
- The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State
- ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror
- The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
- The History of Terrorism: From Antiquity to al Qæda
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Paul LJ Catlow says
Very subjective. For instance, how is a terrorist incident defined for inclusion on this map? What acts qualify and how does a grouping perpetrating them qualify as “terrorist”? It’s notable that the steady trickle of incidents commited by the Continuity IRA and other Irish terrorist groups have been omitted – you should have at least 20 incidents occuring in Northern Ireland, for instance, but according to this map nothing happened there!
Paul LJ Catlow says
And today (27/11/15) in Belfast, terrorists discharged eight rounds of ammunition at policemen responding to an emergency call. Straight away one for your map!
Me says
What part of “with at least 20 deaths didn’t you get?
G Fotz says
In your rush to satiate your own prejudice you didn’t bother to watch the opening statement in the video, the text that says incidents of at least “20 fatalities”. That leaves Northern Ireland out completely. Now if you they were including those killed by loyalist drug dealers, Northern Ireland would be glowing brightly.
Paul LJ Catlow says
And are you accounting for right-wing Christian white-skinned terrorists in the USA? Seemingly not, as apart from two major Islamic-extremist incidents on the eastern coast, the rest of the USA is a total blank. Here’s one to start you off:
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/breaking-right-wing-terrorist-attack-underway-at-colorado-planned-parenthood-multiple-injuries-reported/
oldoddjobs says
The threat posed to civilization by white-skinned right-wing far-right Nazi extreme-right extremist Christian Sarah Palins must never, EVER be underestimated. Theocracy is just around the corner – just look at Northern Ireland, it is pale white-skinned blue-eyed Christian right-wing far-right extremists and their sinister low tax ideology which is destroying the progressive peace and harmony which governments are so desperately attempting to bring about. Thank you brother for reminding us of the true Terror of this Earth. Ex-provos throwing stones and cracking off their last dry rounds at ex-RUC wankers is Jihad for this map, and only extrem-Rechts George Bush types keep it hidden. Fight the establishment! We are never it.
dianegordon says
it’s like comparing a head cold to full blown AIDS
Paul LJ Catlow says
Nobody dies of a head cold, you are correct there. But while it’s going on you can wish you were dead. To expand the anology – The USA is in no danger (yet) of being taken over by its own extremists, maniacs and religious extremists. Your country is too stable, just about, and can resist them. But while they’re active they’ll hurt you, they’ll run you down, they’ll sap your energy, and from outside you don’t seem to be taking the cough mixture? and Donald Trumpism loooks from the outside like one enormous case of influenza combined with a high temperature and a brain fever! (Perhaps the closer to the brain a virus gets, the more dangerous it is?)
Missy Norris says
The toll from the 36 years of conflict in Northern Ireland is 3,323 total lives – a ridiculously small number by comparison to the annual death toll of over 17,000 committed in the name of Islam. There are at least 50 active Islamic Terror organizations responsible for more than 94% of all world terror according to a 2014 Obama Administration, US State Dept. report.
The 3,323 total lives includes losses on both sides of the conflict. If the number is adjusted for only IRA victims it is less than all who died in the World Trade Center attack.
David Zhang says
What did you use to make this, if you don’t mind me asking? (java script, R, R-studio)? I am trying to make a map like this, but am having trouble combining proportional symbols with time-lapsed map.
Dogus Buke says
The video missed Turkey too much.
15 years and only 3 attacks. every day there s something going on here.