Terrorism deaths in Somalia
Somalia: Terrorism deaths was 462 deaths in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Terrorism deaths in Somalia, 1970–2021
Source: National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2021, terrorism deaths in Somalia stood at 462 deaths.
The figure is down 47.8% on the previous year and up 34.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrorism deaths in Somalia peaked at 1,917 deaths in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0 deaths, in 1970.
Somalia ranks 6th of 188 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Terrorism deaths in Somalia, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1971 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1972 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1973 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1974 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1975 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1976 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1977 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1978 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1979 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1980 | 1 deaths | — |
| 1981 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1982 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1983 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1984 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1985 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1986 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1987 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1988 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1989 | 30 deaths | — |
| 1990 | 5 deaths | -83.3% |
| 1991 | 6 deaths | +20.0% |
| 1992 | 8 deaths | +33.3% |
| 1994 | 78 deaths | +875.0% |
| 1995 | 29 deaths | -62.8% |
| 1996 | 28 deaths | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 145 deaths | +417.9% |
| 1998 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1999 | 9 deaths | — |
| 2000 | 36 deaths | +300.0% |
| 2001 | 3 deaths | -91.7% |
| 2002 | 6 deaths | +100.0% |
| 2003 | 7 deaths | +16.7% |
| 2004 | 2 deaths | -71.4% |
| 2005 | 20 deaths | +900.0% |
| 2006 | 22 deaths | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 408 deaths | +1754.5% |
| 2008 | 436 deaths | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 381 deaths | -12.6% |
| 2010 | 295 deaths | -22.6% |
| 2011 | 344 deaths | +16.6% |
| 2012 | 783 deaths | +127.6% |
| 2013 | 660 deaths | -15.7% |
| 2014 | 1,589 deaths | +140.8% |
| 2015 | 1,455 deaths | -8.4% |
| 2016 | 1,583 deaths | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 1,917 deaths | +21.1% |
| 2018 | 1,144 deaths | -40.3% |
| 2019 | 860 deaths | -24.8% |
| 2020 | 885 deaths | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 462 deaths | -47.8% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 462 deaths is above the median for low income countries, which is 51 deaths, 9.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Terrorism deaths in Somalia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +1754.5% | 22 deaths | 408 deaths |
| 2005 | +900.0% | 2 deaths | 20 deaths |
| 1994 | +875.0% | 8 deaths | 78 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 deaths | 0 deaths | 0 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.1 deaths | 0 deaths | 30 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 34.22 deaths | 0 deaths | 145 deaths | 9 |
| 2000s | 132.1 deaths | 2 deaths | 436 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,063 deaths | 295 deaths | 1,917 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 673.5 deaths | 462 deaths | 885 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More health data for Somalia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8681 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 987.7 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 32,421 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 182 (2013)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 2.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrorism deaths in Somalia?
- Terrorism deaths in Somalia was 462 deaths in 2021, according to National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest terrorism deaths recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,917 deaths in 2017.
- What is the lowest terrorism deaths recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 deaths in 1970.
- How does Somalia rank for terrorism deaths?
- Somalia ranks 6th out of 188 countries with data for 2021.
- Is terrorism deaths rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia data come from?
- The figures come from National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Terrorism deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Confirmed deaths, including all victims and attackers who died because of a terrorist attack.