Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries was 36 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
36 attacks
Change on year
down 32.1%
World rank
22nd
of 188 countries
All-time high
53 attacks
in 2020
All-time low
0 attacks
in 1972
Years of data
51
1970–2021

Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ethiopia, 1970–2021

0204060197019952021

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, deaths and injuries in Ethiopia is 36 attacks, measured in 2021.

The figure is down 32.1% on the previous year and up 1,100.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ethiopia peaked at 53 attacks in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0 attacks, in 1972.

That places Ethiopia 22nd out of 188 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ethiopia, 1970 to 2021.
Year attacks Change
1970 3 attacks
1971 1 attacks -66.7%
1972 0 attacks -100.0%
1973 1 attacks
1974 4 attacks +300.0%
1975 4 attacks +0.0%
1976 5 attacks +25.0%
1977 4 attacks -20.0%
1978 2 attacks -50.0%
1979 4 attacks +100.0%
1980 0 attacks -100.0%
1981 0 attacks
1982 0 attacks
1983 3 attacks
1984 1 attacks -66.7%
1985 1 attacks +0.0%
1986 1 attacks +0.0%
1987 1 attacks +0.0%
1988 2 attacks +100.0%
1989 1 attacks -50.0%
1990 10 attacks +900.0%
1991 5 attacks -50.0%
1992 13 attacks +160.0%
1994 4 attacks -69.2%
1995 5 attacks +25.0%
1996 7 attacks +40.0%
1997 6 attacks -14.3%
1998 0 attacks -100.0%
1999 2 attacks
2000 1 attacks -50.0%
2001 0 attacks -100.0%
2002 3 attacks
2003 1 attacks -66.7%
2004 2 attacks +100.0%
2005 5 attacks +150.0%
2006 11 attacks +120.0%
2007 5 attacks -54.5%
2008 8 attacks +60.0%
2009 2 attacks -75.0%
2010 2 attacks +0.0%
2011 3 attacks +50.0%
2012 3 attacks +0.0%
2013 5 attacks +66.7%
2014 2 attacks -60.0%
2015 7 attacks +250.0%
2016 13 attacks +85.7%
2017 28 attacks +115.4%
2018 10 attacks -64.3%
2019 26 attacks +160.0%
2020 53 attacks +103.8%
2021 36 attacks -32.1%

Ethiopia compared with similar countries

  • Ethiopia's 36 attacks is above the median for low income countries, which is 13 attacks, 2.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • Ethiopia's 36 attacks is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1 attacks, 36.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ethiopia 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
1990 +900.0% 1 attacks 10 attacks

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2.8 attacks 0 attacks 5 attacks 10
1980s 1 attacks 0 attacks 3 attacks 10
1990s 5.78 attacks 0 attacks 13 attacks 9
2000s 3.8 attacks 0 attacks 11 attacks 10
2010s 9.9 attacks 2 attacks 28 attacks 10
2020s 44.5 attacks 36 attacks 53 attacks 2

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 19 Mozambique 41 attacks compare
  2. 20 United Kingdom 40 attacks compare
  3. 21 Niger 38 attacks compare
  4. 23 USSR 34 attacks compare
  5. 24 Kenya 33 attacks compare
  6. 25 Thailand 27 attacks compare

See the full ranking of 188 places →

More reference data data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ethiopia?
Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ethiopia was 36 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, deaths and injuries recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 53 attacks in 2020.
What is the lowest terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 0 attacks in 1972.
How does Ethiopia rank for terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries?
Ethiopia ranks 22nd out of 188 countries with data for 2021.
Is terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 1,100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ethiopia 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, deaths and injuries. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ethiopia. 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-fatalities-and-injuries/ethiopia/

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About this data

Indicator
Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries
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
188 places, 9,021 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed

Total number of terrorist attacks.