Armed Conflicts Reach Record Levels Globally in 2023

A new report from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) has revealed that global conflict levels have reached their highest point since the end of the Cold War, said reliefweb.

The data shows that 2023 saw a record number of 59 state-based conflicts worldwide, the most since 1946.

The past three years have been the most violent in the last three decades, with over 330,000 battle-related deaths recorded in Africa alone. Major drivers of this increase include the expansion of groups like the Islamic State across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as a rise in other non-state armed actors getting involved in conflicts.

“Violence in the world is at an all-time high since the end of the Cold War,” said PRIO Research Professor Siri Aas Rustad. “The conflict landscape has become increasingly complex, with more conflict actors operating within the same country.”

While the number of countries experiencing conflict dropped from 39 to 34 last year, the total number of conflicts rose sharply. Particularly devastating was the civil war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the bombing of Gaza, which together accounted for over 122,000 battle deaths in 2023.

Experts warn that this complex and volatile conflict environment is making it increasingly difficult for aid groups and civil society organizations to operate and improve conditions for affected populations.