Number of terrorist attacks in France
France: Number of terrorist attacks was 19 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Number of terrorist attacks in France, 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 France stood at 19 attacks.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 20.8% on the previous year and up 137.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of terrorist attacks in France peaked at 270 attacks in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0 attacks, in 1970.
That places France 29th 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.
Number of terrorist attacks in France, year by year
| Year | attacks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1971 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1972 | 11 attacks | — |
| 1973 | 14 attacks | +27.3% |
| 1974 | 29 attacks | +107.1% |
| 1975 | 39 attacks | +34.5% |
| 1976 | 58 attacks | +48.7% |
| 1977 | 53 attacks | -8.6% |
| 1978 | 59 attacks | +11.3% |
| 1979 | 212 attacks | +259.3% |
| 1980 | 94 attacks | -55.7% |
| 1981 | 66 attacks | -29.8% |
| 1982 | 62 attacks | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 121 attacks | +95.2% |
| 1984 | 145 attacks | +19.8% |
| 1985 | 105 attacks | -27.6% |
| 1986 | 95 attacks | -9.5% |
| 1987 | 87 attacks | -8.4% |
| 1988 | 54 attacks | -37.9% |
| 1989 | 25 attacks | -53.7% |
| 1990 | 30 attacks | +20.0% |
| 1991 | 137 attacks | +356.7% |
| 1992 | 126 attacks | -8.0% |
| 1994 | 97 attacks | -23.0% |
| 1995 | 71 attacks | -26.8% |
| 1996 | 270 attacks | +280.3% |
| 1997 | 130 attacks | -51.9% |
| 1998 | 12 attacks | -90.8% |
| 1999 | 46 attacks | +283.3% |
| 2000 | 28 attacks | -39.1% |
| 2001 | 21 attacks | -25.0% |
| 2002 | 32 attacks | +52.4% |
| 2003 | 34 attacks | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 11 attacks | -67.6% |
| 2005 | 33 attacks | +200.0% |
| 2006 | 34 attacks | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 16 attacks | -52.9% |
| 2008 | 13 attacks | -18.8% |
| 2009 | 9 attacks | -30.8% |
| 2010 | 3 attacks | -66.7% |
| 2011 | 8 attacks | +166.7% |
| 2012 | 66 attacks | +725.0% |
| 2013 | 18 attacks | -72.7% |
| 2014 | 14 attacks | -22.2% |
| 2015 | 38 attacks | +171.4% |
| 2016 | 25 attacks | -34.2% |
| 2017 | 42 attacks | +68.0% |
| 2018 | 13 attacks | -69.0% |
| 2019 | 21 attacks | +61.5% |
| 2020 | 24 attacks | +14.3% |
| 2021 | 19 attacks | -20.8% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of terrorist attacks in France 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +725.0% | 8 attacks | 66 attacks |
| 1991 | +356.7% | 30 attacks | 137 attacks |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 47.5 attacks | 0 attacks | 212 attacks | 10 |
| 1980s | 85.4 attacks | 25 attacks | 145 attacks | 10 |
| 1990s | 102.11 attacks | 12 attacks | 270 attacks | 9 |
| 2000s | 23.1 attacks | 9 attacks | 34 attacks | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.8 attacks | 3 attacks | 66 attacks | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.5 attacks | 19 attacks | 24 attacks | 2 |
Countries ranked near France
- 26 Indonesia 26 attacks compare
- 26 United States 26 attacks compare
- 28 Mexico 21 attacks compare
- 30 Central African Republic 18 attacks compare
- 31 South Africa 15 attacks compare
- 32 South Sudan 14 attacks compare
- 32 Turkey 14 attacks compare
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of terrorist attacks in France?
- Number of terrorist attacks in France was 19 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 270 attacks in 1996.
- What is the lowest number of terrorist attacks recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 attacks in 1970.
- How does France rank for number of terrorist attacks?
- France ranks 29th out of 188 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of terrorist attacks rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 137.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.