This PRIO Paper examines global conflict trends between 1946 and 2024 using data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). 2024 marked a historic peak in state-based conflicts, with 61 active conflicts across 36 countries – the highest number recorded since 1946. It was also the fourth most violent year since the end of the Cold War, driven largely by the civil war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the bombings in Gaza.
These developments underscore a troubling resurgence of large-scale warfare and call for renewed scrutiny of the global conflict landscape. While state-based violence increased, non-state conflicts decreased slightly compared to previous years. In 2024, 74 non-state conflicts were recorded, resulting in approximately 17,500 battle-related deaths. The year witnessed a shift in regional dynamics: while the Americas saw a decline in non-state conflicts, Africa experienced a sharp increase. As such, Africa is now the continent with the highest levels of non-state conflicts. One-sided violence against civilians was conducted by 49 actors in 2024. While non-state actors remain the drivers behind fatalities resulting from one-sided violence, fourteen governments were responsible for one-sided violence against civilians in 2024.
