Number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Number of terrorist attacks was 1,453 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, 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
In 2021, number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan stood at 1,453 attacks.
The figure is down 44.2% on the previous year and up 245.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan peaked at 2,604 attacks in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0 attacks, in 1970.
That places Afghanistan 1st 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.4 attacks | 0 attacks | 3 attacks | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.2 attacks | 0 attacks | 11 attacks | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.89 attacks | 1 attacks | 36 attacks | 9 |
| 2000s | 195.1 attacks | 14 attacks | 503 attacks | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,424 attacks | 421 attacks | 1,928 attacks | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,028 attacks | 1,453 attacks | 2,604 attacks | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Spring temperature anomalies 3.05 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.1923 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.6919 °C (2026)
- Elected parliament 0 (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Free country 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 7 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.44 °C (2025)
- Democracy 0 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan?
- Number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan was 1,453 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 number of terrorist attacks recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 2,604 attacks in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of terrorist attacks recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 attacks in 1970.
- How does Afghanistan rank for number of terrorist attacks?
- Afghanistan ranks 1st out of 187 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of terrorist attacks rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 245.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 Number of terrorist attacks. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of terrorist attacks.