Terrorist attacks by region in Somalia

Somalia: Terrorist attacks by region was 125 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
125 attacks
Change on year
down 55.4%
World rank
10th
of 187 countries
All-time high
872 attacks
in 2014
All-time low
1 attacks
in 1998
Years of data
29
1992–2021

Terrorist attacks by region in Somalia, 1992–2021

02004006008001992200620211992: 21 attacks1994: 57 attacks1995: 13 attacks1996: 16 attacks1997: 19 attacks1998: 1 attacks1999: 4 attacks2000: 9 attacks2001: 5 attacks2002: 3 attacks2003: 1 attacks2004: 1 attacks2005: 6 attacks2006: 10 attacks2007: 156 attacks2008: 172 attacks2009: 122 attacks2010: 130 attacks2011: 185 attacks2012: 325 attacks2013: 342 attacks2014: 872 attacks2015: 422 attacks2016: 602 attacks2017: 617 attacks2018: 527 attacks2019: 361 attacks2020: 280 attacks2021: 125 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

Somalia recorded 125 attacks for terrorist attacks by region in 2021.

That represents a change of down 55.4% on the previous year and down 32.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, terrorist attacks by region in Somalia peaked at 872 attacks in 2014 and was at its lowest, 1 attacks, in 1998.

That places Somalia 10th out of 187 countries with data for 2021, putting it 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 Somalia, year by year

Annual values for Terrorist attacks by region in Somalia, 1992 to 2021.
Year attacks Change
1992 21 attacks
1994 57 attacks +171.4%
1995 13 attacks -77.2%
1996 16 attacks +23.1%
1997 19 attacks +18.8%
1998 1 attacks -94.7%
1999 4 attacks +300.0%
2000 9 attacks +125.0%
2001 5 attacks -44.4%
2002 3 attacks -40.0%
2003 1 attacks -66.7%
2004 1 attacks +0.0%
2005 6 attacks +500.0%
2006 10 attacks +66.7%
2007 156 attacks +1460.0%
2008 172 attacks +10.3%
2009 122 attacks -29.1%
2010 130 attacks +6.6%
2011 185 attacks +42.3%
2012 325 attacks +75.7%
2013 342 attacks +5.2%
2014 872 attacks +155.0%
2015 422 attacks -51.6%
2016 602 attacks +42.7%
2017 617 attacks +2.5%
2018 527 attacks -14.6%
2019 361 attacks -31.5%
2020 280 attacks -22.4%
2021 125 attacks -55.4%

Somalia compared with similar countries

  • Somalia's 125 attacks is above the median for low income countries, which is 13 attacks, 9.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • Somalia's 125 attacks is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1 attacks, 125.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Terrorist attacks by region in Somalia 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
2007 +1460.0% 10 attacks 156 attacks
2005 +500.0% 1 attacks 6 attacks

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 18.71 attacks 1 attacks 57 attacks 7
2000s 48.5 attacks 1 attacks 172 attacks 10
2010s 438.3 attacks 130 attacks 872 attacks 10
2020s 202.5 attacks 125 attacks 280 attacks 2

Countries ranked near Somalia

  1. 7 Pakistan 150 attacks compare
  2. 8 Syria 144 attacks compare
  3. 9 Democratic Republic of Congo 142 attacks compare
  4. 11 Philippines 104 attacks compare
  5. 12 Israel 101 attacks compare
  6. 13 Saudi Arabia 94 attacks compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More reference data data for Somalia

All data for Somalia →

Frequently asked questions

What is terrorist attacks by region in Somalia?
Terrorist attacks by region in Somalia was 125 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 Somalia?
The highest recorded value was 872 attacks in 2014.
What is the lowest terrorist attacks by region recorded in Somalia?
The lowest recorded value was 1 attacks in 1998.
How does Somalia rank for terrorist attacks by region?
Somalia ranks 10th out of 187 countries with data for 2021.
Is terrorist attacks by region rising or falling in Somalia?
Over the last ten years it is down 32.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Somalia 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 Somalia. 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/somalia-fed-rep/

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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.