The Global Terrorism Index 2026 Highlights Morocco's Safety
According to the recently released Global Terrorism Index for 2026 by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Morocco has been ranked 100th out of 163 countries, placing it in a commendable position with a score of zero points. This categorizes Morocco alongside nations such as Singapore, Taiwan, and Estonia, where the risks of terrorism are virtually nonexistent. This report, known for being one of the most comprehensive analyses of terrorism trends globally, covers about 99.7 percent of the world's population.
In stark contrast, Pakistan has been identified as the country most affected by terrorism, scoring a staggering 8,574 points, followed by Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Syria, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, all of which are grappling with the presence of armed terrorist groups. Among North African nations, Egypt suffers the most from terrorism, ranking 33rd globally, with Algeria and Tunisia following, while Libya stands at 59th place.
The report indicates a significant decline in global terrorism-related fatalities, dropping by 28 percent to 5,582 deaths, and a reduction in the number of attacks by approximately 22 percent, totaling 2,944 incidents. Notably, 81 countries experienced improvements in their security situations, whereas only 19 saw deteriorations, marking the lowest number of declines recorded in the index's history.
Despite this positive trend, the report underscores that the Islamic State (ISIS) and its affiliates remain the deadliest terrorist organizations in 2025, although their activities have become concentrated in fewer countries, reducing from 22 to 15. The four most lethal terrorist groups last year included ISIS, the Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Al-Shabaab, collectively responsible for 3,869 deaths, accounting for 70 percent of all terrorism-related fatalities.
The analysis further highlights that terrorism remains largely concentrated, with around 70 percent of deaths occurring in just five countries: Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Pakistan, having recorded the highest score on the index for the first time, faces severe security threats largely attributed to the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan since 2021 and escalating violence from local militant groups.
The situation in Iran is also worrisome, as ongoing conflicts could further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa, with the potential for Iranian sympathizers to execute attacks beyond their borders. The report notes a nearly 30-position drop in Iran's ranking over the past decade, indicating an increasing influence of terrorism driven by separatist groups along its borders.
Moreover, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has been linked to 157 terrorism plots across 15 countries in the last five years, suggesting that although Iran's long-term capabilities have significantly diminished, groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis maintain decentralized networks capable of conducting terrorist operations independently.
In Western nations, the rise of terrorism is attributed to the radicalization of youth and lone actors, with children and teenagers constituting about 42 percent of all terrorism investigations in Europe and North America in 2025. Alarmingly, 87 percent of radicalized minors reported experiences of neglect or psychological abuse, while 77 percent faced abandonment, indicating a disturbing trend in the recruitment of young individuals into extremist activities.
In conclusion, the report, which serves as a vital resource on global terrorism trends, illustrates that the Sahel region continues to be heavily impacted by terrorism. Despite a reduction in fatalities in 2025, the region still accounts for over half of the world's terrorism-related deaths. Notably, motivations for joining terrorist groups in Africa differ significantly from those in the West, with 71 percent of recruits citing human rights violations by government security forces as their primary motivation, while economic factors—such as lack of job opportunities—also play a crucial role, with a quarter of voluntary recruits identifying it as their main reason for joining armed groups.
As reported by hespress.com.
