In 2024, the number of state-involved armed conflicts hit a historic high, according to Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP).
A total of 61 active conflicts were recorded, two more than the previous year and the highest since records began in 1946. Among these, eleven conflicts escalated into wars, each causing more than 1,000 battle-related deaths during the calendar year.
This marks the most wars in a single year since 2016. There was a small dip in overall fatalities from global violence. “The world isn’t more peaceful,” said Shawn Davies, UCDP analyst. “We just saw slightly fewer deaths than in 2022.”
TOTAL DEATHS DECLINE, BUT VIOLENCE STILL SOARS
Though total deaths declined slightly, nearly 160,000 people died in organized violence globally throughout the year. This makes 2024 the fourth most violent year since the 1994 Rwandan genocide, driven by prolonged conflicts and targeted killings.
Experts note the decrease masks a disturbing trend: more wars, more complex conflicts, and rising civilian casualties worldwide.
UKRAINE REMAINS THE DEADLIEST CONFLICT ZONE
The war in Ukraine accounted for around 76,000 deaths. It has become the world’s most lethal battlefield for the second year running. In the Middle East, Israel’s wars in Gaza and against Hezbollah in Lebanon led to approximately 26,000 deaths.
Shockingly, 94 per cent of these were civilians or of unknown identity, according to UCDP’s latest conflict dataset.
“Distinguishing civilians from fighters is increasingly difficult,” said analyst Therese Pettersson. “Especially where airstrikes hit dense urban zones.”
CIVILIAN TARGETING ON THE RISE
Direct violence against civilians surged by 31 per cent, with UCDP recording 13,900 civilian deaths from targeted attacks. The Islamist group Islamic State (IS) remained the deadliest actor targeting civilians, responsible for around 3,800 deaths in 2024.
Most of IS’s killings occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a hotspot for armed extremist operations in Africa.
BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN CIVILIANS AND COMBATANTS
Only two per cent of the deaths in Gaza could be confirmed as fighters. Meanwhile, 48 per cent were identified as civilians.
The rest were classified as unknown—an issue that complicates international war crime investigations and post-conflict reconstruction planning. “Knowing who was killed matters—for justice, aid, and rebuilding society,” Pettersson emphasized.
INTERSTATE CONFLICTS AND PROXY WARS SURGE
UCDP reported that interstate conflicts reached their highest level since 1987, with growing global tension among nation-states. Many states now support foreign armed groups, fueling proxy wars and making conflicts longer, bloodier, and harder to contain.
“We’re living in an era of complex, interconnected wars,” Davies said. “They’re more intense and much harder to resolve.”
A DECADE OF ESCALATING VIOLENCE
Since 2010, state-involved conflicts have nearly doubled, and war-related deaths have increased fivefold, despite short periods of decline.
The shift toward proxy engagement, regional spillovers, and blurred combatant lines has made today’s wars harder to track and stop. These trends have deepened instability, especially in fragile nations, and exposed civilians to greater harm with fewer protections.
CONFLICT MAPPING IS CRITICAL FOR PEACE
UCDP stresses the urgent need to document casualties and conflict patterns, ensuring accurate data guides global intervention and support. “It’s about knowing who’s dying and where,” Pettersson said. “That data guides how we respond and protect civilians.”
Conflict transparency is vital for justice systems, humanitarian action, and developing peace strategies that prioritize civilian safety.
GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS FACE GREATER DEMANDS
The surge in conflicts puts immense pressure on peacekeeping missions, diplomacy, and international humanitarian law frameworks. UCDP analysts call for faster global responses, improved monitoring, and renewed commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.
Many of the world’s most violent zones are also data-scarce, requiring better information gathering to shape effective intervention.
A DANGEROUS SHIFT IN MODERN WARFARE
The world entered 2024 with more wars, more armed actors, and more attacks on civilians than seen in decades. Though overall deaths were lower than in 2022, this masks a darker reality of normalized, widespread, and complex warfare.
From Ukraine to Gaza, and Congo to Lebanon, civilian lives remain at extreme risk, often without clear protection or accountability. “We’ve made statements,” said Davies. “Now we need tangible results. We must act, document, and de-escalate—urgently.”
