Sri Lanka has been recognized as one of the countries with the lowest terrorism threat levels globally, according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025, released on March 5.
Ranked 100th among 163 countries, Sri Lanka achieved a GTI score of zero, sharing the lowest spot with 63 other nations. The report highlights a significant improvement, as the country dropped 64 places in the rankings within a year, reflecting a sharp decline in terrorism risk.
Leading South Asia in Security
Sri Lanka now shares the lowest terror threat ranking in South Asia with Bhutan, making them the only two countries in the region to record no terrorist attacks in the past five years.
Despite South Asia maintaining the highest average GTI score globally—a trend persisting for the past decade—the region has seen an overall decline in terrorism compared to ten years ago. However, the increase in attacks in Pakistan remains a major driver of instability.
The report highlights that while Afghanistan and Pakistan are among the world’s ten most terrorism-affected nations, Sri Lanka has emerged as the most improved country in South Asia, having recorded no terrorist incidents or fatalities since 2019. Nepal followed closely, marking its second consecutive year without terrorism-related incidents.
Pakistan’s Escalating Threat Levels
Pakistan witnessed a dramatic rise in terrorism, with regional attacks increasing from 726 to 1,399 and deaths rising from 961 to 1,303. This surge positioned Pakistan as the second most terrorism-affected country worldwide for the second consecutive year, while India ranked 14th.
Meanwhile, the Sahel region remains the global epicenter of terrorism, accounting for over half of all terrorism-related deaths.
About the Global Terrorism Index
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is compiled annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) and is considered the most comprehensive report on global terrorism trends. It evaluates terrorism threats based on multiple factors, including the number of incidents, fatalities, injuries, and hostage situations, along with conflict and socioeconomic data, to provide a holistic assessment of terrorism worldwide.
Sri Lanka’s continued absence from terrorism-related incidents underscores the country’s progress in security and counterterrorism efforts, solidifying its position as one of the safest nations in the region.
