Terrorist attacks by region in Nigeria

Nigeria: Terrorist attacks by region was 448 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
448 attacks
Change on year
down 6.3%
World rank
3rd
of 187 countries
All-time high
713 attacks
in 2014
All-time low
1 attacks
in 1995
Years of data
29
1992–2021

Terrorist attacks by region in Nigeria, 1992–2021

02004006008001992200620211992: 11 attacks1994: 8 attacks1995: 1 attacks1996: 11 attacks1997: 20 attacks1998: 2 attacks1999: 18 attacks2000: 6 attacks2001: 5 attacks2002: 6 attacks2003: 9 attacks2004: 6 attacks2005: 9 attacks2006: 37 attacks2007: 61 attacks2008: 76 attacks2009: 42 attacks2010: 63 attacks2011: 175 attacks2012: 615 attacks2013: 347 attacks2014: 713 attacks2015: 641 attacks2016: 535 attacks2017: 488 attacks2018: 650 attacks2019: 507 attacks2020: 478 attacks2021: 448 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

The most recent figure for terrorist attacks by region in Nigeria is 448 attacks, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.3% on the previous year and up 156.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, terrorist attacks by region in Nigeria peaked at 713 attacks in 2014 and was at its lowest, 1 attacks, in 1995.

Nigeria ranks 3rd 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 Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Terrorist attacks by region in Nigeria, 1992 to 2021.
Year attacks Change
1992 11 attacks
1994 8 attacks -27.3%
1995 1 attacks -87.5%
1996 11 attacks +1000.0%
1997 20 attacks +81.8%
1998 2 attacks -90.0%
1999 18 attacks +800.0%
2000 6 attacks -66.7%
2001 5 attacks -16.7%
2002 6 attacks +20.0%
2003 9 attacks +50.0%
2004 6 attacks -33.3%
2005 9 attacks +50.0%
2006 37 attacks +311.1%
2007 61 attacks +64.9%
2008 76 attacks +24.6%
2009 42 attacks -44.7%
2010 63 attacks +50.0%
2011 175 attacks +177.8%
2012 615 attacks +251.4%
2013 347 attacks -43.6%
2014 713 attacks +105.5%
2015 641 attacks -10.1%
2016 535 attacks -16.5%
2017 488 attacks -8.8%
2018 650 attacks +33.2%
2019 507 attacks -22.0%
2020 478 attacks -5.7%
2021 448 attacks -6.3%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 448 attacks is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1 attacks, 448.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Terrorist attacks by region in Nigeria 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
1996 +1000.0% 1 attacks 11 attacks
1999 +800.0% 2 attacks 18 attacks

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 10.14 attacks 1 attacks 20 attacks 7
2000s 25.7 attacks 5 attacks 76 attacks 10
2010s 473.4 attacks 63 attacks 713 attacks 10
2020s 463 attacks 448 attacks 478 attacks 2

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 1 Afghanistan 1,453 attacks compare
  2. 2 Iraq 547 attacks compare
  3. 4 Yemen 290 attacks compare
  4. 5 India 235 attacks compare
  5. 6 Myanmar 216 attacks compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More reference data data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is terrorist attacks by region in Nigeria?
Terrorist attacks by region in Nigeria was 448 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 Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 713 attacks in 2014.
What is the lowest terrorist attacks by region recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 1 attacks in 1995.
How does Nigeria rank for terrorist attacks by region?
Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 187 countries with data for 2021.
Is terrorist attacks by region rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 156.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nigeria 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 Nigeria. 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/nigeria/

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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.