Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ireland

Ireland: Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries was 2 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
2 attacks
Change on year
down 80.0%
World rank
57th
of 188 countries
All-time high
33 attacks
in 2014
All-time low
0 attacks
in 1988
Years of data
51
1970–2021

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

0102030197019952021

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

In 2021, terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ireland stood at 2 attacks.

That represents a change of down 80.0% on the previous year and down 50.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ireland peaked at 33 attacks in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 attacks, in 1988.

That places Ireland 57th out of 188 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

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

Annual values for Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ireland, 1970 to 2021.
Year attacks Change
1970 1 attacks
1971 1 attacks +0.0%
1972 5 attacks +400.0%
1973 3 attacks -40.0%
1974 3 attacks +0.0%
1975 7 attacks +133.3%
1976 5 attacks -28.6%
1977 3 attacks -40.0%
1978 3 attacks +0.0%
1979 8 attacks +166.7%
1980 6 attacks -25.0%
1981 5 attacks -16.7%
1982 4 attacks -20.0%
1983 4 attacks +0.0%
1984 1 attacks -75.0%
1985 2 attacks +100.0%
1986 2 attacks +0.0%
1987 24 attacks +1100.0%
1988 0 attacks -100.0%
1989 3 attacks
1990 2 attacks -33.3%
1991 16 attacks +700.0%
1992 7 attacks -56.2%
1994 10 attacks +42.9%
1995 3 attacks -70.0%
1996 1 attacks -66.7%
1997 4 attacks +300.0%
1998 3 attacks -25.0%
1999 3 attacks +0.0%
2000 0 attacks -100.0%
2001 2 attacks
2002 0 attacks -100.0%
2003 1 attacks
2004 0 attacks -100.0%
2005 0 attacks
2006 1 attacks
2007 1 attacks +0.0%
2008 5 attacks +400.0%
2009 0 attacks -100.0%
2010 4 attacks
2011 4 attacks +0.0%
2012 29 attacks +625.0%
2013 27 attacks -6.9%
2014 33 attacks +22.2%
2015 28 attacks -15.2%
2016 15 attacks -46.4%
2017 17 attacks +13.3%
2018 5 attacks -70.6%
2019 12 attacks +140.0%
2020 10 attacks -16.7%
2021 2 attacks -80.0%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ireland 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
1987 +1100.0% 2 attacks 24 attacks
1991 +700.0% 2 attacks 16 attacks
2012 +625.0% 4 attacks 29 attacks
1972 +400.0% 1 attacks 5 attacks
2008 +400.0% 1 attacks 5 attacks

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 3.9 attacks 1 attacks 8 attacks 10
1980s 5.1 attacks 0 attacks 24 attacks 10
1990s 5.44 attacks 1 attacks 16 attacks 9
2000s 1 attacks 0 attacks 5 attacks 10
2010s 17.4 attacks 4 attacks 33 attacks 10
2020s 6 attacks 2 attacks 10 attacks 2

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 54 Italy 3 attacks compare
  2. 54 Nepal 3 attacks compare
  3. 54 Paraguay 3 attacks compare
  4. 57 Argentina 2 attacks compare
  5. 57 Belgium 2 attacks compare
  6. 57 Chad 2 attacks compare
  7. 57 Estonia 2 attacks compare
  8. 57 Liberia 2 attacks compare
  9. 57 Spain 2 attacks compare
  10. 57 Switzerland 2 attacks compare

See the full ranking of 188 places →

More reference data data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ireland?
Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Ireland was 2 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 Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 33 attacks in 2014.
What is the lowest terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 0 attacks in 1988.
How does Ireland rank for terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries?
Ireland ranks 57th out of 188 countries with data for 2021.
Is terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ireland 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 Ireland. 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/ireland/

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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.