World
36 Worst Armed Conflicts of 2023
By Matt De Vlieger · December 24, 2023
Russo-Ukrainian War
Conflict involving Russia and Ukraine, with a cumulative fatality estimate of 180,000–220,000. In 2022, there were 82,637 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 29,534–95,088+ fatalities. Rawpixel
Internal Conflict in Myanmar
Ongoing conflict in Myanmar with a cumulative fatality estimate of 180,000–210,000. In 2022, there were 2,750–19,376 fatalities, and in 2023, it witnessed 14,841+ fatalities. Htin Linn Aye/Wikimedia
Israel–Palestine Conflict
Long-standing, multifaceted conflict in the Middle East involving relocation and occupation which has further errupted recently, with the assualt on Gaza. In 2022, 194–257 fatalities were reported, and in 2023, there were 23,214–31,104 fatalities. Fars Media Corporation
Insurgency in the Maghreb
Regional conflict involving Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Algeria, Tunisia, Chad, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Morocco, and Libya. The conflict has resulted in 56,000+ cumulative fatalities, with 2022 seeing 11,304 deaths and 2023 witnessing 13,626+ fatalities. Dans/Wikimedia
Mexican Drug War
Ongoing conflict in Mexico with a total of 350,000–400,000 fatalities. In 2022, there were 7,778 deaths reported, and in 2023, the conflict resulted in 6,802+ fatalities. MX/Wikimedia
Ethiopian Civil Conflict
Ongoing conflict in Ethiopia with a cumulative fatality estimate of 177,000–600,000. In 2022, there were 6,813–109,600 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 3,578+ fatalities. Yan Boechat/VOA
War in Sudan
Conflict in Sudan resulting in 12,785 fatalities in 2023. No fatalities were reported in 2022, but the cumulative fatalities reached 12,785 in 2023. UNHCR
Colombian Conflict
Involving campaigns and clashes in Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Cumulative fatalities stand at 453,000+, with 2022 reporting 282–3,153 deaths and 2023 having 2,491+ fatalities. Nadie Huamán/Wikimedia
Afghan Conflict
Conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan with a cumulative fatality estimate of 1,453,000–2,584,468. In 2022, there were 1,545–3,986 fatalities, and in 2023, it witnessed 1,007+ fatalities. U.S. Marine Corps
Somali Civil War
Long-standing conflict in Somalia and Kenya with a cumulative fatality estimate of 350,000–1,000,000. In 2022, there were 3,115–7,178 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 8,849+ fatalities. STUART PRICE/AU-UN IST
Allied Democratic Forces Insurgency
Conflict in DR Congo and Uganda with 9,000+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 2,875 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 1,378+ fatalities. MONUSCO/Flicker
Communal Conflicts in Nigeria
Involving communal and religious conflicts in Nigeria with 95,000+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 2,500–2,877 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 3,050+ fatalities. Wikimedia
Ituri Conflict
Conflict in DR Congo with 65,000+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 1,640 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 790+ fatalities. MONUSCO
Iraq War
Involving conflicts and insurgencies in Iraq with a cumulative fatality estimate of 332,000–1,215,000. In 2022, there were 855–1,901 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 1,283+ fatalities.How the after effects of the U.S. war and occupation continue to cross borders; the image show as a U.S. airstrike in north Syria in response to an attack in Kirkuk, Iraq. U.S. Airforce
Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Conflict in Pakistan with 46,000–61,549+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 889 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 1,200+ fatalities. Abbasi786786/UN OCHA's HumData Database
Kivu Conflict
Conflict involving DR Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi with 25,000+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 2,410–5,912 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 2,182+ fatalities Borysk5/Kivu Conflict
Sudanese Nomadic Conflicts
Involving conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan with 387,000–400,000+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 2,389 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 1,240+ fatalities. Phoenix B 1of3/Wikimedia
Boko Haram Insurgency
Conflict involving Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad with 368,000 cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 8,156 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 4,967+ fatalities. Wikimedia
Syrian Civil War
Ongoing conflict in Syria with a cumulative fatality estimate of 580,000–613,407. In 2022, there were 1,638–5,942 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 5,856+ fatalities. AbdurRahman1426/Mapporn Reddit
Yemeni Civil War
Conflict involving Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates with 377,000 cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 3,223–7,139 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 3,375+ fatalities. Felton Davis/Flickr
Gang War in Haiti
Conflict in Haiti with 3,700+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 236–1,447 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 1,960+ fatalities. La Prensa
Kurdish Separatism in Iran
Ongoing conflict in Iran with a cumulative fatality estimate of 15,000–58,000. In 2022, there were 157–453 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 179+ fatalities. Kurdishstruggle/Flickr
Kurdish–Turkish Conflict
Long-standing conflict involving Turkey, Iraq, and Syria with 120,000+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 370–577 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 129+ fatalities. Kurdishstruggle/Flickr
Jamaican Political Conflict
Conflict in Jamaica with 1,081+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 379 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 381+ fatalities. Jamaica Defence Force
Indo-Pakistani Wars
Involving conflicts and tensions between India and Pakistan with 200,000–2,000,000 cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 235–360 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 630+ fatalities. Canva
Israeli–Lebanese Conflict
Long-standing conflict involving Israel and Lebanon, with 48,000+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 43 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 201–513+ fatalities. The Israel-Palestine conflict has reopened a cross border conflict. Canva
Insurgency in Balochistan
Ongoing ethnic conflict in Pakistan and Iran with 20,800–21,000+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 154–795 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 579+ fatalities. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
Ethiopian–Somali Conflict
Conflict involving Ethiopia and Somalia with 10,000 cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 904 deaths, and in 2023, no fatalities were reported. Creative Commons
Insurgency in Northeast India
Involving conflicts in Northeast India and Bhutan with 40,000 cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 24–230 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 535+ fatalities. Chaipau/Wikimedia
Papua Conflict
Conflict in Indonesia with 100,000–500,000 cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 52–249 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 175+ fatalities. Gitoyo aryo/Creative Commons
Naxalite–Maoist Insurgency
Ongoing conflict in India with 12,877–14,369+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 101–395 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 355+ fatalities. Wikimedia
Cabinda War
Conflict in Angola with 30,000 cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 20–104 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 66+ fatalities. Wikimedia
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Long-standing conflict involving Artsakh, Azerbaijan, and Armenia with 39,300–49,000 cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 300 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 594+ fatalities. Rr016/Wikimedia
Internal Conflict in Bangladesh
Ongoing conflict in Bangladesh with 1,500+ cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 308 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 305+ fatalities. Monirul Alam/EFE
Libyan Civil War
Conflict in Libya with 30,000–43,000 cumulative fatalities. In 2022, there were 13–157 deaths, and in 2023, it witnessed 88+ fatalities. Wikimedia Atlas of Libya