MEASURING AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF TERRORISM

Figure 21 shows the number of foreign fighters by region.
Fighters have travelled to Iraq and Syria from every one of the
nine world regions. There has been significant concern from
Western governments about the high numbers of individuals
joining armed groups in Iraq and Syria and the potential for
returnees to carry out terrorist attacks in their home countries. 10
Figure 22 estimates the total number of foreign fighters in Iraq
and Syria at three different dates: the end of 2013, mid-2014
and mid-2015.
NUMBER OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS
FIGURE 21 FOREIGN FIGHTERS IN IRAQ AND
SYRIA BY REGION OF ORIGIN, 2015
The majority of foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria
come from the Middle East and North Africa.
Western countries include Europe, the United
States, Canada and Australia.
15,000
13,000
11,000
9,000
7,000
5,000
Highest reported
estimate, alternative
sources, through
October 2015
High-end
estimate, ICSR,
as of mid-2014
Conservative
estimate, ICSR,
as of mid-2014
NUMBER OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS
FIGURE 22 CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF FOREIGN
FIGHTERS IN IRAQ AND SYRIA, 2013 TO 2015
The total number of foreign fighters believed to
have joined armed groups in Iraq and Syria more
than doubled from December 2013 to October
2015. Figures are cumulative totals. Numbers are
estimates only based on IEP calculations from a
variety of sources.
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
3,000
5,000
1,000
-
2013 2014 Mid-2015
MENA
Western
countries
Rest of
the world
DATE OF ESTIMATE
Source: IEP, ICSR
Source: IEP, ICSR
There has been significant concern from Western governments about the high
numbers of individuals joining armed groups in Iraq and Syria and the potential
for returnees to carry out terrorist attacks in their home countries.
GLOBAL TERRORISM INDEX 2015 | Trends
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