With 110 active conflicts and 11 wars surpassing 1,000 deaths annually, the world faces its most violent period since WWII.

The planet is currently gripped by a level of violence not seen since the Second World War. According to data released this week by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, there are now 110 armed conflicts raging worldwide — the highest number recorded since 1945.

Of these, 61 involve at least one state actor, marking a significant escalation in state-led warfare. Even more alarming, 11 of these conflicts have crossed the grim threshold of 1,000 fatalities per year, officially classifying them as ‘wars’ by international standards.

This surge in violence is not limited to one region or ideology. From the escalating war in Sudan, to protracted insurgencies in Myanmar and Somalia, to new flare-ups along disputed borders in the Caucasus and Central Asia, the range and geographic spread of armed hostilities are striking. Meanwhile, high-intensity confrontations continue in Ukraine, Gaza, and Yemen, drawing in regional and global powers.

‘We are witnessing an alarming normalization of conflict,’ said Dr. Mara Jensen, a political violence expert at the International Crisis Group. ‘There is no longer a single epicenter — violence is becoming diffuse, unpredictable, and harder to contain.’

The underlying causes vary — from state collapse and extremist insurgency to great power rivalries and climate-induced resource scarcity. But the cumulative toll is unmistakable: millions displaced, economies shattered, healthcare systems overwhelmed, and entire generations living in fear.

In many of these conflicts, civilians bear the brunt. The United Nations reports a record number of civilian casualties so far in 2025, with hospitals, schools, and aid workers increasingly targeted. Humanitarian corridors are routinely ignored, and ceasefires often last only days or hours.

Peace efforts have stalled in multiple theaters, with diplomacy often taking a back seat to military escalation. The UN Security Council, paralyzed by geopolitical divides, has failed to pass meaningful resolutions in key conflict zones. Regional peacekeeping efforts, underfunded and politically constrained, struggle to maintain stability.

Experts warn that the sheer number of conflicts — and the complexity of their drivers — could overwhelm the international system’s capacity to respond. ‘We’re entering a new era,’ said General Philippe Lemoine, a retired French peacekeeper. ‘Post-WWII frameworks are failing to adapt to 21st-century conflict dynamics. We need more than peacekeeping. We need systemic reinvention.’

In this climate, even countries previously considered stable are investing heavily in military preparedness, fearing spillover and contagion effects. Border tensions, arms races, and digital warfare are rapidly becoming the norm.

As the world navigates this dangerous moment, one fact is undeniable: peace is no longer the default state. In 2025, conflict is not the exception — it is the rule. And unless new global mechanisms are developed to mediate, de-escalate, and prevent these crises, the next generation may inherit a world more fractured than ever.