Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries was 40 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in United Kingdom, 1970–2021
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
United Kingdom recorded 40 attacks for terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 55.6% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in United Kingdom peaked at 292 attacks in 1972 and was at its lowest, 5 attacks, in 2004.
That places United Kingdom 20th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | attacks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12 attacks | — |
| 1971 | 81 attacks | +575.0% |
| 1972 | 292 attacks | +260.5% |
| 1973 | 189 attacks | -35.3% |
| 1974 | 203 attacks | +7.4% |
| 1975 | 194 attacks | -4.4% |
| 1976 | 194 attacks | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 140 attacks | -27.8% |
| 1978 | 100 attacks | -28.6% |
| 1979 | 239 attacks | +139.0% |
| 1980 | 134 attacks | -43.9% |
| 1981 | 142 attacks | +6.0% |
| 1982 | 95 attacks | -33.1% |
| 1983 | 177 attacks | +86.3% |
| 1984 | 145 attacks | -18.1% |
| 1985 | 67 attacks | -53.8% |
| 1986 | 95 attacks | +41.8% |
| 1987 | 117 attacks | +23.2% |
| 1988 | 180 attacks | +53.8% |
| 1989 | 163 attacks | -9.4% |
| 1990 | 147 attacks | -9.8% |
| 1991 | 262 attacks | +78.2% |
| 1992 | 274 attacks | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 256 attacks | -6.6% |
| 1995 | 22 attacks | -91.4% |
| 1996 | 36 attacks | +63.6% |
| 1997 | 78 attacks | +116.7% |
| 1998 | 63 attacks | -19.2% |
| 1999 | 76 attacks | +20.6% |
| 2000 | 61 attacks | -19.7% |
| 2001 | 94 attacks | +54.1% |
| 2002 | 21 attacks | -77.7% |
| 2003 | 23 attacks | +9.5% |
| 2004 | 5 attacks | -78.3% |
| 2005 | 29 attacks | +480.0% |
| 2006 | 6 attacks | -79.3% |
| 2007 | 24 attacks | +300.0% |
| 2008 | 39 attacks | +62.5% |
| 2009 | 23 attacks | -41.0% |
| 2010 | 57 attacks | +147.8% |
| 2011 | 47 attacks | -17.5% |
| 2012 | 54 attacks | +14.9% |
| 2013 | 136 attacks | +151.9% |
| 2014 | 104 attacks | -23.5% |
| 2015 | 114 attacks | +9.6% |
| 2016 | 104 attacks | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 123 attacks | +18.3% |
| 2018 | 101 attacks | -17.9% |
| 2019 | 85 attacks | -15.8% |
| 2020 | 90 attacks | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 40 attacks | -55.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in United Kingdom 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +575.0% | 12 attacks | 81 attacks |
| 2005 | +480.0% | 5 attacks | 29 attacks |
| 2007 | +300.0% | 6 attacks | 24 attacks |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 164.4 attacks | 12 attacks | 292 attacks | 10 |
| 1980s | 131.5 attacks | 67 attacks | 180 attacks | 10 |
| 1990s | 134.89 attacks | 22 attacks | 274 attacks | 9 |
| 2000s | 32.5 attacks | 5 attacks | 94 attacks | 10 |
| 2010s | 92.5 attacks | 47 attacks | 136 attacks | 10 |
| 2020s | 65 attacks | 40 attacks | 90 attacks | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in United Kingdom?
- Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in United Kingdom was 40 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 292 attacks in 1972.
- What is the lowest terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 attacks in 2004.
- How does United Kingdom rank for terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries?
- United Kingdom ranks 20th out of 188 countries with data for 2021.
- Is terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total number of terrorist attacks.