There are armed conflicts in around 40-50 countries worldwide, depending on how a conflict is defined.

The latest major studies provide these figures:

• 40 armed conflicts across the world, according to the School for a Culture of Peace at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
• 49 countries or locations experiencing armed conflict in 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
• 35 countries with 61 armed conflicts in 2024, according to the Peace Research Institute Oslo.

Why are the numbers different?

Some organisations count individual conflicts, while others count the countries where fighting occurs. Some include civil wars, insurgencies and clashes involving armed groups, not just wars between nations.

In short: around 40-50 countries or locations experienced armed conflict in 2025.

Dozens of active armed conflicts worldwide range from major international wars to civil wars and insurgencies.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) recorded armed conflict in 49 countries in 2025, including five conflicts that each caused more than 10,000 conflict-related deaths that year.

Below is a summary of major conflicts, when they began, how civilians are affected and whether war crimes have been reported.

A note on war crimes: There is a difference between allegations, findings by UN investigative bodies and convictions by a court. I distinguish these where possible. The list is not exhaustive, and I cannot independently verify the status of every conflict on 29 September 2026.

1. Major conflicts in Europe and the Middle East

Ukraine

Start: Russia's conflict with Ukraine began in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine. Russia launched its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022.

Impact on civilians:

• Thousands of civilians killed and many more injured.
• Millions displaced within Ukraine or forced to flee abroad.
• Damage to homes, hospitals, schools and electricity infrastructure.
• Disruption to water supplies, heating and essential services.

The UN verified that 2,514 civilians were killed and 12,142 injured in Ukraine during 2025.

War crimes: UN investigations have documented violations including unlawful killings, torture, sexual violence and attacks affecting civilians. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against several Russian officials. Allegations against all parties require investigation on their individual facts.

Israel and Palestine

Start: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has roots extending back more than a century. The current Gaza war began on 7 October 2023, following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel and Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza.

Impact on civilians:

• Large-scale civilian deaths and injuries.
• Widespread destruction of homes and essential infrastructure.
• Mass displacement within Gaza.
• Severe shortages of food, clean water, healthcare and shelter.
• Israeli civilians killed, injured or taken hostage in the 7 October attacks and subsequent violence.

War crimes: UN investigators and international legal bodies have examined alleged war crimes by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups.

The allegations include attacks on civilians, hostage-taking, indiscriminate attacks and the use of starvation as a method of warfare.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders in connection with alleged crimes. An arrest warrant is not a conviction.

Sudan

Start: 15 April 2023.

Main parties: Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Impact on civilians:

• Millions forced from their homes.
• Severe food insecurity and famine conditions in some areas.
• Hospitals and essential services destroyed or disrupted.
• Widespread sexual violence.
• Mass killings and attacks on civilian communities.

The UN has described Sudan as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The death toll is uncertain, with estimates varying substantially.

War crimes: Both sides have been accused of war crimes. The US government determined in January 2025 that members of the RSF and allied militias had committed genocide in Sudan. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged crimes in Darfur.

Yemen

Start: The current civil war began in 2014, when Houthi forces seized the capital, Sana'a. A Saudi-led military intervention began in 2015.

Impact on civilians:

• Millions displaced.
• Widespread food insecurity and malnutrition.
• Damage to healthcare, water and sanitation systems.
• Civilian deaths caused by airstrikes, shelling and other violence.

War crimes: Allegations have included indiscriminate attacks, unlawful airstrikes, attacks on civilian infrastructure and recruitment of child soldiers. Responsibility varies across the parties.

Syria

Start: March 2011, following protests against the government and the subsequent escalation into armed conflict.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024 changed the political and military landscape, but violence and insecurity have continued.

Impact on civilians:

• Millions displaced inside Syria or abroad.
• Extensive destruction of homes and infrastructure.
• Disrupted healthcare, education and public services.
• Continuing insecurity and risks to minority communities.

War crimes: UN investigations have documented torture, unlawful killings, chemical weapons attacks and attacks on civilians during the conflict. Multiple parties have been implicated in serious violations.

Lebanon and Israel

Start: The current major escalation began in October 2023, although the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has much older roots.

Impact on civilians:

• Deaths and injuries from airstrikes and rocket attacks.
• Displacement of communities on both sides of the border.
• Damage to homes, agricultural land and infrastructure.
• Disruption to healthcare and livelihoods.

War crimes: Allegations include indiscriminate attacks, attacks affecting civilians and the use of weapons in ways that may violate international humanitarian law. Specific incidents require investigation.

2. Major conflicts in Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Impact on civilians:

• Millions displaced, particularly in the east.
• Attacks on villages and displacement camps.
• Sexual violence and recruitment of children.
• Severe food insecurity and disrupted healthcare.

The UN and other organisations have documented serious violations by armed groups and government forces, including acts that may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Somalia

Impact on civilians:

• Deaths and injuries from bombings, attacks and military operations.
• Displacement and food insecurity.
• Disruption to education and healthcare.
• Threats and abuses by armed groups.

War crimes: Al-Shabaab and other parties have been accused of serious violations, including attacks on civilians, killings and recruitment of children.

The Sahel: Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger

These countries face overlapping insurgencies involving jihadist armed groups, government forces and, in some areas, foreign military personnel.

Impact on civilians:

• Large-scale displacement.
• Attacks on villages and civilian communities.
• School closures and disrupted healthcare.
• Food insecurity and loss of livelihoods.

War crimes: UN and human rights investigations have reported unlawful killings, executions and other serious abuses by armed groups and state forces. Some incidents may constitute war crimes.

Nigeria

Impact on civilians:

• Thousands killed over the course of the insurgency.
• Millions displaced in the northeast.
• Abductions, including the kidnapping of schoolchildren.
• Food insecurity and disrupted education.

War crimes: Boko Haram and ISWAP have committed serious abuses, including killings, abductions and attacks on civilians. Nigerian security forces have also faced allegations of unlawful killings and other violations.

Ethiopia

The Tigray war began in November 2020, but the conflict has since evolved, with continuing violence in Amhara and other regions.

Impact on civilians:

• Deaths, displacement and destruction of infrastructure.
• Food insecurity and disrupted healthcare.
• Reports of sexual violence and attacks on civilians.

War crimes: Investigations have documented serious violations by multiple parties, including killings, sexual violence and forced displacement.

3. Major conflicts in Asia

Myanmar

Start: The current nationwide conflict escalated following the military coup of February 2021. However, ethnic armed conflicts in Myanmar have existed for decades.

Impact on civilians:

• Millions displaced.
• Airstrikes and artillery attacks affecting civilian areas.
• Destruction of homes and villages.
• Disrupted education, healthcare and food supplies.

War crimes: UN investigators have documented allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including killings, torture, sexual violence and attacks on civilians.

Afghanistan

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, ending the previous phase of the war. Armed opposition groups, including Islamic State-Khorasan Province, continue to carry out attacks.

Impact on civilians:

• Civilian deaths from bombings and attacks.
• Displacement and economic hardship.
• Restrictions affecting education, employment and public life.
• Severe humanitarian needs.

War crimes: Armed groups have been responsible for attacks on civilians. The Taliban and other parties have faced allegations of serious human rights violations, although not every violation constitutes a war crime.

Pakistan

Pakistan faces several armed insurgencies, particularly in Balochistan and areas bordering Afghanistan.

Impact on civilians:

• Civilian deaths from bombings and armed attacks.
• Displacement in affected areas.
• Disruption to schools, businesses and transport.
• Security operations affecting local communities.

War crimes: Allegations include unlawful killings, enforced disappearances and attacks on civilians. The legal classification of particular incidents depends on the circumstances and applicable law.

4. What does this tell us about war crimes worldwide?

War crimes are serious violations of international humanitarian law committed during armed conflict.

Examples include:

• Deliberately attacking civilians.
• Torture or inhuman treatment of prisoners.
• Taking hostages.
• Deliberately attacking hospitals or humanitarian workers when protected.
• Using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.
• Rape and other forms of sexual violence.
• Forcibly transferring or deporting protected civilians in circumstances prohibited by law.

Not every civilian death is a war crime. The legality of an attack depends on factors such as whether the target was military, whether the attack was indiscriminate or disproportionate, and what precautions were taken.

Likewise, an allegation of a war crime is not the same as a court finding that a crime occurred.

SIPRI's 2026 assessment reported increasing concerns about violations of international humanitarian law, including sexual violence, child recruitment, starvation tactics and attacks on health services.

How many people are affected?

The human cost is enormous.

SIPRI estimated approximately 238,000 conflict-related deaths worldwide in 2025, based on data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. It also reported that around 117.3 million people were displaced by mid-2025, although that figure includes displacement from causes beyond armed conflict alone.

The effects extend beyond those killed or injured.

Families lose their homes, children lose access to education, hospitals struggle to function, and people may spend years living as refugees or internally displaced persons.

Summary

The most prominent large-scale conflicts include:

The common thread is that civilians bear a disproportionate share of the consequences of modern armed conflict. In many of these wars, credible evidence of serious violations has been documented, but legal responsibility must be established for each incident and each alleged perpetrator.