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Explosive Violence Monitor 2024: Initial Data

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Explosive Violence Monitor 2024: Initial Data

AOAV’s Explosive Violence Monitor 2024 has shown a significant 67% increase in global civilian casualties reported in English language media from explosive violence compared to 2023, with a total of 61,353 killed and injured.

Overall casualties rose by 39% from the year before. This was predominantly driven by airstrikes, which caused 63% of civilian casualties and doubled in lethality from the previous year, as reported by reputable English language media. 

Israel accounted for 55% of reported civilian casualties from explosive violence, largely in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, marking a 139% increase from 2023.

Other notable trends include a reported 355% global surge in air-dropped bomb use, especially in Ukraine and Myanmar, and rising casualties from non-specific IEDs despite fewer incidents. Over the past decade, AOAV’s explosive violence data has shown airstrikes to have become increasingly devastating, with civilian casualties from airstrikes rising by 1,143% since 2014.

AOAV’s data – gleaned from daily analysis of reputable English language media sources (methodology) – aligns with INEW’s (International Network on Explosive Weapons) call for the urgent need for global efforts to mitigate harm to civilians from explosive weapons in populated areas.

Casualty Trends (2023–2024)

  • Total Casualties
    • A 39% increase in reported total casualties from explosive violence globally was recorded in 2024 compared to 2023 
    • There were 49,712 total people reported killed and injured in 2023, and 69,068 people reported killed and injured in 2024.
  • Civilian Casualties:
    • A 67% increase in reported civilian casualties from such violence occurred over the same period. 
    • There were 36,640 civilians reported killed and injured by explosive violence in 2023, and 61,353 civilians killed and injured in 2024.
  • Explosive Violence Incidents
    • A 26% rise of specific reported incidents (by reputable media outlets) was noted when comparing 2023 to 2024 (8,042 to 10,120).

Civilian Casualties from explosive violence (2024 vs. 2023)

  • Civilians Killed: Increased by 51% (16,635 to 25,116).
  • Civilians Injured: Increased by 81% (20,005 to 36,237).
  • Civilian Casualties in Populated Areas: Increased by 69% (34,852 to 59,031).


Israel’s Impact

  • Israel accounted for 55% of all civilian casualties recorded in 2024, totaling 33,910 casualties, primarily in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. 
  • In 2023, Israel accounted for 39% of all civilian casualties recorded worldwide.
  • Civilian casualties caused by Israel rose by 139% between 2023 and 2024.

Weapons and Key Locations

  • Airstrikes: The leading cause of civilian casualties in 2024, responsible for 63% (30,804 casualties). This marks a 104% increase from 2023 (from 15,105 casualties in 2023).
  • IEDs: The number of incidents where non-specific IEDs were used decreased by 27% between 2023 and 2024
    • However, the number of civilian casualties caused by non-specific IEDs increased by 167% between 2023 and 2024 (1,976 to 5,268)
  • Gaza: The most impacted country in both years, accounting for 39% of all civilian casualties in 2024. This represents a 68% increase in civilian casualties in Gaza compared to 2023.

Global Impact

  • Affected Areas: Explosive violence impacted 69 countries and territories in 2024.
  • Weapons Usage: An increase was observed in the use of all weapon types tracked by AOAV’s monitoring system.

Top 5 Worst-Affected Countries (2023 vs. 2024)

20242023
GazaGaza
UkraineUkraine
LebanonSudan
SudanSyria
MyanmarMyanmar


Weapons

  1. Air strikes
  • The number of air strikes recorded has increased 181% from 2023 to 2024
  • The number of civilian casualties caused by air strikes increased by 104% (15,105 to 30,804 civilian casualties).
  • Air strikes caused the most civilian casualties in both 2023 and 2024 and continue to be the most deadly weapon. 
  1. Missiles
  • The number of missiles recorded increased by 82% from 2023 to 2024
  • The number of civilian casualties caused by missiles increased by 46%
  • Missiles overtook non-specific shelling as the second most deadly weapon in 2024.
  1. Shelling 
  • The number of shelling incidents recorded has remained largely consistent between 2023 and 2024
  • However, the number of civilian casualties caused by non-specific shelling increased by 18%
  1. Non specific IEDs
  • The number of incidents where non-specific IEDs were used decreased by 27% between 2023 and 2024
  • However, the number of civilian casualties caused by non-specific IEDs increased by 167% between 2023 and 2024
  1. Artillery shelling
  • The number of incidents where artillery shelling was used decreased by 7% between 2023 and 2024.
  • However, the number of civilian casualties caused by artillery shelling increased by 66% between 2023 and 2024.
  1. Notable trends
  • The use of air dropped bombs, which includes air dropped IEDs and explosives dropped from drones has increased by 355% from 2023 to 2024, mainly in Ukraine and Myanmar.

Perpetrators

  1. Israel – accounted for 55% (33,910) of all civilian casualties recorded in 2024.
  2. Russia – accounted for 19% (11,693) of all civilian casualties recorded.
  3. Actors of unknown name and status – accounted for 6% (3,675) of civilian casualties in 2024.
  4. Myanmar – accounted for 5% (2,956) of civilian casualties in 2024.
  5. Sudan – accounted for 3% (1,750) of civilian casualties in 2024.

Past 5 years (2019-2024)

  • In comparison to 2019, the number of explosive violence incidents has increased by 152% (4,012 to 10,120)
  • In comparison to 2019, the number of civilian casualties recorded has increased by 206% (20,031 to 61,353)
  • The use of air strikes has increased by 275% from 2019 to 2024 (1,148 to 4,308)
  • The number of civilian casualties caused by air strikes has increased by 533% (4,865 to 30,804) 
  • In 2019, the use of IEDs were only marginally lower than the use of air strikes, however in 2024, the gap has widened significantly.  

*This data includes accidental detonation and stockpile explosions

Past 10 years (2014-2024)

  • In comparison to 2014, the number of explosive violence incidents has increased by 257% (2,701 to 9,653)
  • In comparison to 2014, the number of civilian casualties recorded has increased by 85% (32,656 to 60,297)
  • The use of air strikes has increased by 632% from 2014 to 2024.
  • The number of civilian casualties caused by air strikes has increased by 1143% (2,474 to 30,740) 
  • In 2014, the use of IEDs were the most deadly weapon used, this has been overtaken by air strikes by 2024.
  • Israeli forces caused the most civilian casualties in both 2014 and 2024, but the civilian casualties caused has increased by 802%.
    • Israel was the deadliest known actor in 2014 – the most deadly perpetrator were actors of unknown name and status. 

*This data includes accidental detonation and stockpile explosions.

**AOAV does not claim to capture all incidents of explosive violence harm. We do not capture data on bladed weapons or guns. We only capture incidents as reported by reliable English language media sources (over 400 such publications were in our 2024 report). AOAV’s full dataset will be published in the Spring of 2025: this is prelimiary findings and death tolls may rise over time.

** Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) is a member of the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW), a global coalition of NGOs dedicated to preventing human suffering caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. INEW strongly advocates for states to endorse the UN Political Declaration on explosive weapons, which seeks to reduce civilian harm and enhance the protection of civilians. The Declaration calls for restrictions on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and emphasizes the importance of providing assistance to victims and affected communities during and after conflict.