Number of terrorist attacks in United States
United States: Number of terrorist attacks was 26 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
26 attacks
Change on year
down 74.8%
World rank
26th
of 188 countries
All-time high
468 attacks
in 1970
All-time low
6 attacks
in 2006
Years of data
51
1970–2021
Number of terrorist attacks in United States, 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 States recorded 26 attacks for number of terrorist attacks in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 74.8% on the previous year and up 188.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of terrorist attacks in United States peaked at 468 attacks in 1970 and was at its lowest, 6 attacks, in 2006.
United States ranks 26th of 188 countries on this measure, 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 United States, year by year
| Year | attacks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 468 attacks | — |
| 1971 | 247 attacks | -47.2% |
| 1972 | 68 attacks | -72.5% |
| 1973 | 58 attacks | -14.7% |
| 1974 | 94 attacks | +62.1% |
| 1975 | 149 attacks | +58.5% |
| 1976 | 105 attacks | -29.5% |
| 1977 | 130 attacks | +23.8% |
| 1978 | 87 attacks | -33.1% |
| 1979 | 69 attacks | -20.7% |
| 1980 | 67 attacks | -2.9% |
| 1981 | 74 attacks | +10.4% |
| 1982 | 77 attacks | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 44 attacks | -42.9% |
| 1984 | 63 attacks | +43.2% |
| 1985 | 40 attacks | -36.5% |
| 1986 | 49 attacks | +22.5% |
| 1987 | 34 attacks | -30.6% |
| 1988 | 27 attacks | -20.6% |
| 1989 | 42 attacks | +55.6% |
| 1990 | 32 attacks | -23.8% |
| 1991 | 31 attacks | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 32 attacks | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 55 attacks | +71.9% |
| 1995 | 60 attacks | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 35 attacks | -41.7% |
| 1997 | 42 attacks | +20.0% |
| 1998 | 31 attacks | -26.2% |
| 1999 | 54 attacks | +74.2% |
| 2000 | 42 attacks | -22.2% |
| 2001 | 47 attacks | +11.9% |
| 2002 | 33 attacks | -29.8% |
| 2003 | 35 attacks | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 9 attacks | -74.3% |
| 2005 | 21 attacks | +133.3% |
| 2006 | 6 attacks | -71.4% |
| 2007 | 11 attacks | +83.3% |
| 2008 | 18 attacks | +63.6% |
| 2009 | 12 attacks | -33.3% |
| 2010 | 19 attacks | +58.3% |
| 2011 | 9 attacks | -52.6% |
| 2012 | 20 attacks | +122.2% |
| 2013 | 20 attacks | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 29 attacks | +45.0% |
| 2015 | 41 attacks | +41.4% |
| 2016 | 68 attacks | +65.9% |
| 2017 | 66 attacks | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 76 attacks | +15.2% |
| 2019 | 72 attacks | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 103 attacks | +43.1% |
| 2021 | 26 attacks | -74.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 147.5 attacks | 58 attacks | 468 attacks | 10 |
| 1980s | 51.7 attacks | 27 attacks | 77 attacks | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.33 attacks | 31 attacks | 60 attacks | 9 |
| 2000s | 23.4 attacks | 6 attacks | 47 attacks | 10 |
| 2010s | 42 attacks | 9 attacks | 76 attacks | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.5 attacks | 26 attacks | 103 attacks | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of terrorist attacks in United States?
- Number of terrorist attacks in United States was 26 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 468 attacks in 1970.
- What is the lowest number of terrorist attacks recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 6 attacks in 2006.
- How does United States rank for number of terrorist attacks?
- United States ranks 26th out of 188 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of terrorist attacks rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 188.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.
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.