Terrorist attacks by region in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Terrorist attacks by region was 1,453 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
1,453 attacks
Change on year
down 44.2%
World rank
1st
of 187 countries
All-time high
2,604 attacks
in 2020
All-time low
1 attacks
in 1997
Years of data
29
1992–2021

Terrorist attacks by region in Afghanistan, 1992–2021

01.0k2.0k3.0k1992200620211992: 36 attacks1994: 9 attacks1995: 6 attacks1996: 4 attacks1997: 1 attacks1998: 1 attacks1999: 9 attacks2000: 14 attacks2001: 14 attacks2002: 38 attacks2003: 100 attacks2004: 88 attacks2005: 155 attacks2006: 283 attacks2007: 342 attacks2008: 414 attacks2009: 503 attacks2010: 542 attacks2011: 421 attacks2012: 1.5k attacks2013: 1.4k attacks2014: 1.8k attacks2015: 1.9k attacks2016: 1.6k attacks2017: 1.4k attacks2018: 1.8k attacks2019: 1.8k attacks2020: 2.6k attacks2021: 1.5k attacks

Source: National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in attacks.

Analysis

Afghanistan recorded 1,453 attacks for terrorist attacks by region in 2021.

The figure is down 44.2% on the previous year and up 245.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, terrorist attacks by region in Afghanistan peaked at 2,604 attacks in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1 attacks, in 1997.

Afghanistan ranks 1st of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Terrorist attacks by region in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Terrorist attacks by region in Afghanistan, 1992 to 2021.
Year attacks Change
1992 36 attacks
1994 9 attacks -75.0%
1995 6 attacks -33.3%
1996 4 attacks -33.3%
1997 1 attacks -75.0%
1998 1 attacks +0.0%
1999 9 attacks +800.0%
2000 14 attacks +55.6%
2001 14 attacks +0.0%
2002 38 attacks +171.4%
2003 100 attacks +163.2%
2004 88 attacks -12.0%
2005 155 attacks +76.1%
2006 283 attacks +82.6%
2007 342 attacks +20.8%
2008 414 attacks +21.1%
2009 503 attacks +21.5%
2010 542 attacks +7.8%
2011 421 attacks -22.3%
2012 1,469 attacks +248.9%
2013 1,443 attacks -1.8%
2014 1,824 attacks +26.4%
2015 1,928 attacks +5.7%
2016 1,616 attacks -16.2%
2017 1,415 attacks -12.4%
2018 1,777 attacks +25.6%
2019 1,806 attacks +1.6%
2020 2,604 attacks +44.2%
2021 1,453 attacks -44.2%

Afghanistan compared with similar countries

  • Afghanistan's 1,453 attacks is above the median for low income countries, which is 13 attacks, 111.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • Afghanistan's 1,453 attacks is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4 attacks, 363.2× the median. (21 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Terrorist attacks by region in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1999 +800.0% 1 attacks 9 attacks
2012 +248.9% 421 attacks 1,469 attacks

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 9.43 attacks 1 attacks 36 attacks 7
2000s 195.1 attacks 14 attacks 503 attacks 10
2010s 1,424 attacks 421 attacks 1,928 attacks 10
2020s 2,028 attacks 1,453 attacks 2,604 attacks 2

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 2 Iraq 547 attacks compare
  2. 3 Nigeria 448 attacks compare
  3. 4 Yemen 290 attacks compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More reference data data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is terrorist attacks by region in Afghanistan?
Terrorist attacks by region in Afghanistan was 1,453 attacks in 2021, according to National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest terrorist attacks by region recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 2,604 attacks in 2020.
What is the lowest terrorist attacks by region recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 1 attacks in 1997.
How does Afghanistan rank for terrorist attacks by region?
Afghanistan ranks 1st out of 187 countries with data for 2021.
Is terrorist attacks by region rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 245.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Terrorist attacks by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Terrorist attacks by region in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/terrorist-attacks-by-region/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Terrorist attacks by region
Unit
attacks
Source
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
187 places, 5,394 data points, 1992–2021
Last refreshed

Total number of terrorist attacks.