Uppsala University data shows 65 wars in 2025, highest since 1994

Researchers at Uppsala University’s Conflict Data Program reported that 2025 saw a record 65 armed conflicts worldwide – the most since the program began collecting data in the 1970s. The total death toll across all conflicts was roughly 245,000 people, approaching a quarter‑million casualties.

The deadliest war was the Russian‑Ukrainian conflict, accounting for about 95,000 deaths or roughly 62 % of all war‑related fatalities. Other major contributors to the death toll were the war in Sudan and the Israel‑Palestine conflict. The report also noted a rise in interstate conflicts, with eight involving two states – such as India‑Pakistan and Israel‑Syria – the highest number since 1946.

Uppsala analysts warned that the surge in both interstate wars and large‑scale civilian violence signals a marked deterioration in global security, with no clear indication that the situation will improve in 2026.