A Mexican soldier stands guard outside of the crime scene at La Gallera. Mexico shows high numbers of non-state conflicts. Photo: Erin Siegal CC BY
A Mexican soldier stands guard outside of the crime scene at La Gallera. Mexico shows high numbers of non-state conflicts. Photo: Erin Siegal CC BY

The 2020 update of the Uppsala Conflict Data Program is now available, and reveals interesting trends in armed conflict for the last year, including more conflicts but also fewer deaths.

PRIO Research Director Siri Aas Rustad points out that 2020 had 56 unique conflicts, the highest number since 1946.

"This makes it sound like we are in the worst situation the world has ever been, but things are of course not always as it seems," Rustad says.

The number of people killed was at its lowest since 2011, and that number has been decreasing since 2014.

In a new episode of PRIO's Peace in a Pod, Siri discusses these trends and more. Click here to listen, or find it on any podcast app.

UCDP is a collaboration between University of Uppsala and PRIO.

To explore the data, click here.