A file photo shows deployed security forces. Photo: Al-Ahram
Egypt has moved into the “low impact” category in the latest Global Terrorism Index, reflecting a sustained decline in terrorist activity and a broader shift in global threat patterns.
The report, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) (a globally recognized think tank based in Sydney, Australia), ranks Egypt 32nd worldwide in 2026, down from 29th the previous year, marking an improvement from its previous “medium impact” classification.
Based on data from 163 countries, the index measures terrorism using indicators such as attacks, deaths, injuries, and hostage incidents. Its methodology is designed to track long-term trends rather than short-term fluctuations.
According to Egypt’s cabinet media centre, the improved ranking reflects a steady reduction in terrorist incidents, which are now largely confined to North Sinai. Most other parts of the country have recorded little to no activity in recent years.
The decline has been driven by fewer and less deadly attacks, alongside a drop in injuries and hostage-taking cases. The report also points to the weakening of militant groups in Sinai following years of military operations, as well as tighter border controls and expanded surveillance systems.
Globally, however, terrorism remains highly concentrated in a small number of regions. The Sahel in sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the brunt, with countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger accounting for a significant share of terrorism-related deaths.
Elsewhere, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain among the most affected, despite shifting security conditions.
In the Middle East and Africa, countries including Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, and Somalia continue to rank high, although several have seen declines from peak levels during earlier phases of conflict involving groups such as the Islamic State.
By contrast, much of Europe, North America, and parts of the Middle East and North Africa—including Egypt—are now classified as low or very low impact, reflecting limited incidents and a longer-term downward trend in violence.
Overall, the report finds that global terrorism is becoming increasingly uneven, with improvements in some countries offset by persistent instability in a smaller number of high-risk regions.
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