Global Conflicts Reached Their Greatest Levels Since World War II, As per a Recent Survey

Research from a Swedish university indicates that 2025 has seen the highest number of state conflicts since World War II, along with the most fatalities since the Rwandan genocide.

In 2025, there were 65 active conflicts as reported by the Uppsala Conflict Data Programme (UCDP). Notably, direct conflicts between states doubled to eight, marking the highest count since UCDP began its data collection in 1946.

Shawn Davies, a senior analyst at UCDP, notes a significant rise in interstate conflicts, contrasting with the historical rarity of such wars. Recent developments indicate increasing international tensions and a shift in the global security landscape. Plus, 65 conflicts involved intrastate dynamics, primarily between government forces and rebel groups.

Conflict-Related Deaths Since Rwanda

Fatalities in conflict reached a record high in 2025, with approximately 244,600 deaths, increasing from 187,000 in 2024. Therése Pettersson of UCDP noted that this surge reflects not just more conflicts but also significantly higher violence directed against civilians, particularly in Sudan.

Remarkably, the data is divided into a number of categories by the researchers. One is “state-based violence,” which encompasses both “interstate wars,” or conflicts between nations, and internal, civil wars. In any case, this grouping indicates that one or both sides of a conflict—such as Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine—are governments.

Then there is “non-state violence,” which includes conflicts between two groups that are not states, such as cartel violence in Mexico or sectarian conflict in Pakistan.

A third category, “one-sided violence,” involves attacks on civilians, exemplified by government crackdowns on protests in Tanzania and rebel group assaults on civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Out of 65 conflicts last year, 13 escalated to war status, characterised by over 1,000 battlefield deaths annually.

Russia-Ukraine was 2025's Bloodiest Conflict

The Russia-Ukraine war has been the deadliest interstate conflict, with battle-related deaths reaching 62%. In 2025, Russian casualties totalled 77,700, while Ukrainian losses were 14,000. Researchers from Uppsala, utilising various open sources including social media, highlighted that Russian battlefield losses have increased, whereas Ukrainian losses have remained stable.

The Israel-Hamas war resulted in 14,400 fatalities, making it the second-deadliest conflict, although this was a decrease from the previous year due to ceasefire agreements.

Sudan ranks as the third deadliest state-based conflict, with 12,200 deaths, primarily resulting from clashes between government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF has perpetrated extensive violence against civilians, with tens of thousands killed in massacres, particularly following the capture of El Fasher last year.

Conflicts Increase Due to Pax Americana's Decline

Researchers attribute the increase in global conflicts over the past decade to a shift in the international order established by the U.S. since World War II.

In its 2025 National Security Strategy, the United States seems to be distancing itself from the global order it established. The high frequency of conflicts and wars, especially interstate conflicts, suggests that the era of Pax Americana and the liberal world order may be concluding.

Furthermore, data indicate that interstate conflicts have significantly increased over the past decade, reaching the highest levels since World War II.

Co-author Petterssen emphasised that this trend predates the Trump administration and cannot be attributed to specific U.S. policy changes or a single political leader. She added that the article discusses a significant debate in international relations regarding potential changes in the post-Cold War international order.

Eventually, researchers warn that 2026 is unlikely to be more peaceful than the previous year, with current data indicating a continuing trend of rising global conflicts.

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