Interstate Conflicts Surge to Highest Levels Since World War II
Number of conflicts between states reaches highest level since World War II
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In 2025, interstate conflicts reached their highest level since World War II, doubling from 2023 to eight conflicts. The Uppsala Conflict Data Program reported a total of 65 conflicts, with 244,600 fatalities, marking a significant increase in violence, especially against civilians in Sudan.
- 01The number of interstate conflicts increased from two in 2023 to eight in 2025, according to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program.
- 02In 2025, around 244,600 people died from organized violence, making it the second deadliest year since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
- 03The war between Russia and Ukraine accounted for approximately 94,700 fatalities, representing 62% of all battle-related deaths worldwide.
- 04Violence targeting civilians surged, particularly in Sudan, where one-sided violence resulted in the highest death toll in over 30 years.
- 05Despite the rise in state conflicts, non-state conflicts decreased, with deaths from such conflicts dropping to the lowest level since 2013.
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The number of conflicts between states has sharply increased, reaching the highest level since World War II, as reported by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). In 2025, the number of interstate conflicts doubled from two in 2023 to eight, including notable wars such as those between Russia and Ukraine, and Iran and Israel. Overall, UCDP recorded 65 conflicts involving states, with fatalities from organized violence totaling around 244,600, making 2025 the second deadliest year since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The war in Ukraine was the deadliest, with at least 94,700 deaths, while violence against civilians dramatically increased in Sudan, particularly following events in El Fasher. Despite the rise in state conflicts, the number of non-state conflicts decreased, with fatalities from such violence at their lowest since 2013. Analysts indicate that these trends reflect heightened international tensions and significant changes in the global security landscape.
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The rise in interstate conflicts and violence has significant implications for global security and humanitarian conditions, particularly in affected regions.
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