Overview

• Last year saw 61 armed conflicts in 36 countries, the most since 1946, including 11 full-scale wars
• Combat deaths held near 129,000, making 2024 the fourth-deadliest year since the end of the Cold War
• Deliberate attacks on civilians killed 13,900 people, marking a 31% rise from 2023
• The war in Ukraine accounted for about 76,000 battle deaths, with Gaza and Ethiopia also among the deadliest conflicts
• Researchers caution that shifting state support and fragmented violence require sustained international engagement to prevent further escalation