The number of conflicts around the world has reached a record high

The year 2024 marked a new record for the number of wars and conflicts worldwide, according to a report published on June 11 by the Oslo-based Peace Research Institute (PRIO). According to it, the number of armed conflicts involving at least one state last year amounted to 61, and this occurred in 36 countries. This figure is higher than in any year since the end of World War II.

PRIO analysts note that the number of conflicts has continued to grow steadily in recent years. If in 2022 there were 56 armed conflicts and in 2023 59, then in 2024 their number reached 61. Of these, 11 were assessed as wars with large-scale scale and significant casualties.

International experts say that in 2024, “two major wars” were the most significant global events: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The conflict in Ukraine killed about 76,000 people, while the conflict in Gaza killed about 26,000.

In its annual report, “Conflict Trends: A Global Overview,” PRIO concludes that the number of deaths in 2023 and 2024 was almost the same — about 129,000. However, the level of violence was significantly higher than the average for the past 30 years.

This made 2024 the fourth deadliest year in terms of casualties in armed conflicts since the end of the Cold War in 1989. PRIO’s analysis shows that intra-state conflicts and armed actions against governments have also increased significantly.

In particular, the African region is currently the region most affected by conflicts. In 2024, 28 countries on the continent were experiencing wars and armed conflicts. This figure is almost double the figure a decade ago. There were 17 conflicts in Asia, 10 in the Middle East, 3 in Europe and 2 in the Americas.

According to the researchers, the expansion of the scale of conflicts, the increase in the number of victims and, in particular, the spread of civil wars pose a serious threat to peace and security around the world. PRIO calls on the international community to develop a long-term peace strategy and introduce substantively stable diplomatic mechanisms.