Global Conflicts Reach Highest Level Since WWII, Uppsala Study Reveals
A recent study by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) at Uppsala University has reported a significant increase in global conflicts, reaching the highest level since World War II. In 2025, there were 65 active conflicts, with the number of direct interstate conflicts doubling from the previous year to eight. This marks the highest number of such conflicts since the UCDP began collecting data in 1946. The deadliest conflict was the Russia-Ukraine war, accounting for 62% of all battle-related deaths, with 77,700 Russian and 14,000 Ukrainian fatalities. Other significant conflicts included the Israel-Hamas war and the Sudanese civil war. The study highlights a dramatic increase in violence against civilians, particularly in Sudan, where tens of thousands were killed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).