Mexico is second deadliest conflict zone

Mexico has surpassed Iraq and Afghanistan to become the world’s second-most lethal conflict after Syria. Mexico’s drug wars claimed 23,000 lives in 2016, behind only Syria, where 50,000 people died

Mexico 58.9%

Latin America 39,000

(2015: 34,000)

Central America 41%

Other 0.1%

Syria 61%

Iraq 21%

Afghanistan 84%

Pakistan 9%

Other 7%

South Asia 19,000

Asia-Pacific 1,250 (1,750)

Other 12%

Philippines 40%

Myanmar 24%

Thailand 24%

Middle East and North Africa

82,000 deaths

(2015: 83,000)

Yemen 9%

Turkey 4%

Other 5%

Sub-Saharan Africa

15,000 (19,000)

Somalia 23%

Nigeria 20%

Other 14%

South Sudan 20%

Sudan 23%

Europe and Eurasia 1,000 (4,500)

Ukraine 70%

Other 30%

Fatalities in world’s conflicts fell for second successive year in 2016, to 157,000, from 167,000 in 2015 and 180,000 in 2014

Number of homicides, virtually all caused by small arms, rose in 22 of Mexico’s 32 states

Syria’s 50,000 deaths bring total since 2011 to around 290,000 – more than twice number killed in
Bosnia’s four-year conflict in 1990s

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan claimed 17,000 and 16,000 lives respectively in 2016

Source: IISS Armed Conflict Survey 2017