Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries was 94 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
94 attacks
Change on year
up 56.7%
World rank
13th
of 188 countries
All-time high
134 attacks
in 2016
All-time low
0 attacks
in 1970
Years of data
51
1970–2021

Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Saudi Arabia, 1970–2021

050100150197019952021

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 Saudi Arabia stood at 94 attacks.

That represents a change of up 56.7% on the previous year and up 4,600.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Saudi Arabia peaked at 134 attacks in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0 attacks, in 1970.

That places Saudi Arabia 13th out of 188 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, deaths and injuries in Saudi Arabia, year by year

Annual values for Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Saudi Arabia, 1970 to 2021.
Year attacks Change
1970 0 attacks
1971 0 attacks
1972 0 attacks
1973 0 attacks
1974 0 attacks
1975 0 attacks
1976 0 attacks
1977 1 attacks
1978 0 attacks -100.0%
1979 1 attacks
1980 0 attacks -100.0%
1981 0 attacks
1982 0 attacks
1983 0 attacks
1984 2 attacks
1985 2 attacks +0.0%
1986 1 attacks -50.0%
1987 0 attacks -100.0%
1988 1 attacks
1989 3 attacks +200.0%
1990 0 attacks -100.0%
1991 2 attacks
1992 0 attacks -100.0%
1994 2 attacks
1995 3 attacks +50.0%
1996 1 attacks -66.7%
1997 0 attacks -100.0%
1998 0 attacks
1999 0 attacks
2000 5 attacks
2001 3 attacks -40.0%
2002 2 attacks -33.3%
2003 8 attacks +300.0%
2004 17 attacks +112.5%
2005 1 attacks -94.1%
2006 3 attacks +200.0%
2007 1 attacks -66.7%
2008 0 attacks -100.0%
2009 3 attacks
2010 0 attacks -100.0%
2011 2 attacks
2012 6 attacks +200.0%
2013 6 attacks +0.0%
2014 14 attacks +133.3%
2015 104 attacks +642.9%
2016 134 attacks +28.8%
2017 57 attacks -57.5%
2018 94 attacks +64.9%
2019 43 attacks -54.3%
2020 60 attacks +39.5%
2021 94 attacks +56.7%

Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries

  • Saudi Arabia's 94 attacks is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4 attacks, 23.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Saudi Arabia 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
2015 +642.9% 14 attacks 104 attacks

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 0.2 attacks 0 attacks 1 attacks 10
1980s 0.9 attacks 0 attacks 3 attacks 10
1990s 0.8889 attacks 0 attacks 3 attacks 9
2000s 4.3 attacks 0 attacks 17 attacks 10
2010s 46 attacks 0 attacks 134 attacks 10
2020s 77 attacks 60 attacks 94 attacks 2

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

  1. 10 Somalia 125 attacks compare
  2. 11 Philippines 104 attacks compare
  3. 12 Israel 101 attacks compare
  4. 14 Colombia 76 attacks compare
  5. 14 Mali 76 attacks compare
  6. 16 Burkina Faso 53 attacks compare

See the full ranking of 188 places →

More reference data data for Saudi Arabia

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Saudi Arabia?
Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Saudi Arabia was 94 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 Saudi Arabia?
The highest recorded value was 134 attacks in 2016.
What is the lowest terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The lowest recorded value was 0 attacks in 1970.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries?
Saudi Arabia ranks 13th out of 188 countries with data for 2021.
Is terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
Over the last ten years it is up 4,600.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia. 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/saudi-arabia/

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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.