Islamic State the deadliest terror group in 2024 as big four expands 

The four major terrorist organisations, IS, Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and al-Shabaab continued to increase their activity, with deaths attributed to these groups increasing by 11 per cent to 4,204. In 2023, these groups were active in 29 countries which increased to 30 countries in 2024.  

IS continues to function as a global network, maintaining its presence across multiple regions through affiliated groups. In 2024, it was active in 22 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Despite counterterrorism efforts, the group’s ability to coordinate, inspire, and execute attacks highlights its resilience and evolving operational strategies.  

In 2024, 36 per cent of terrorist attacks were not claimed by an organisation. IEP has developed a machine learning model to assign these incidents to likely groups. The analysis found that deaths attributed to IS would have been 58 per cent higher, while those linked to JNIM would have been 176 per cent higher. This underscores the challenges in accurately assessing the impact of different terrorist organisations.  

This is the twelfth edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), which provides a comprehensive summary of the key global trends and patterns in terrorism over the last decade. While overall deaths from terrorism declined in 2024, several groups remained highly active, perpetuating violence and instability.  

The 10 Deadliest Terror Groups in 2024

1. Islamic State (IS) and Affiliates

Islamic State (IS) and its affiliated chapters, including Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISK) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWA), remained the most lethal terrorist network in 2024. The group was responsible for 1,805 deaths across 23 countries, despite a 10% decline from the previous year. IS continues to employ suicide bombings and armed assaults, particularly targeting military personnel and civilians. 

2. Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM)

Operating mainly in the Sahel region, JNIM recorded a significant rise in attacks, resulting in 1,022 deaths. The group expanded its operations in Mali and Burkina Faso, with its most devastating assault occurring in Centre-Nord, Burkina Faso, where up to 200 civilians were killed in a coordinated offensive. 

3. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

TTP was responsible for 558 deaths in 2024, marking a 90% increase compared to the previous year. The group intensified its attacks in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, with its deadliest attack killing 25 people at a railway station in Quetta. 

4. Al-Shabaab

Al-Shabaab remains Somalia’s most dangerous militant organization, responsible for 96% of terrorist attacks in the country. While the group’s overall activity declined, it still accounted for over 400 deaths. The deadliest attack of the year occurred in Mogadishu, where a suicide bombing and armed assault on a hotel killed 37 people. 

5. Boko Haram

Although Boko Haram’s influence has waned compared to previous years, the group remains a significant threat in Nigeria and Cameroon. In 2024, Boko Haram was responsible for multiple deadly assaults, including an attack in Yobe State, Nigeria, where 100 to 150 civilians were killed. 

6. Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISK)

ISK maintained its deadly presence across Afghanistan, Iran, and Russia, with 95 people killed in a single bombing at a memorial event in Iran. The group also orchestrated the Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow, which resulted in 144 fatalities—the fourth deadliest terrorist incident of the year. 

7. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWA)

A key IS affiliate, ISWA engaged in violent clashes with Boko Haram in Nigeria, leading to over 85 deaths in April 2024. The group remains one of the dominant actors in the Lake Chad Basin region. 

8. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)

Formerly an Al-Qaeda affiliate, HTS continued its insurgency in Syria, responsible for numerous targeted assassinations and bombings, primarily in Idlib and Aleppo. 

9. Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)

The BLA escalated its campaign against Pakistani security forces and Chinese infrastructure projects. The group claimed responsibility for Pakistan’s deadliest attack in 2024, a suicide bombing that killed 25 people at a Quetta railway station. 

10. Hamas

Hamas increased its militant activities in 2024, particularly in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The group claimed responsibility for a high-profile attack in Tel Aviv that resulted in seven civilian deaths. 

The findings from the GTI 2025 underscore the persistent and evolving threat of terrorism worldwide. While counterterrorism efforts have weakened some groups, others continue to expand, particularly in unstable regions such as the Sahel, South Asia, and the Middle East, fed in part by the root causes of extremism including political instability, economic deprivation and ideological radicalisation.

Global Terrorism Index

Published annually by the leading international think tank the Institute of Economics & Peace (IEP), the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is the most comprehensive resource on global terrorism trends and uses multiple factors to calculate its score, including the number of incidences, fatalities, injuries and hostages, and combines it with conflict and socio-economic data to provide a holistic picture of terrorism.

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