Special Report

Countries Currently at War

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: January 25, 2024 1:29 pm

There are several conflicts taking place today that capture the majority of media attention – the current war between Russia and Ukraine the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the attacks by Houthi Rebels in the Red Sea. These conflicts have had a significant impact on a global scale but it’s important to recognize that warfare is happening right now in many other places around the world. These conflicts, whether stemming from civil unrest or disputes between neighboring countries, exact a horrible toll on military personnel and civilians alike. 

Ukraine and Russia have been hesitant to disclose accurate casualty figures. But as the conflict drags on, it is estimated that both sides have suffered over 200,000 casualties – battle deaths or wounds – according to Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He gave those estimates during a talk at the Economic Club of New York in November. Miley went on to say the Russian invasion has also killed roughly 40,000 Ukrainian civilians. Both sides have also lost thousands of military vehicles, (Also read: these are the latest Russian and Ukrainian weapon and vehicle losses.)

The death toll continues to rise in Israel and the Gaza Strip. In the past three months, it is believed that around 24,700 people have been killed, with over 60,000 more injured and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the independent online data site the World Population Review about ongoing conflicts to determine which countries are currently at war. We independently verified the presence of each ongoing conflict, removed countries we were unable to verify, and added, using different sources, the list of forces currently involved, which only included nations and factions that are actively fighting in the conflict.

The wars on this list include wars between neighboring countries, insurgencies by factions within a country, and civil wars. The countries are listed in order of when the wars began. Population figures came from the World Bank and are for 2021. In 1960, the former British colony of Somaliland merged with Italian Somalia. After declaring independence in 1991, the African nation fell into a civil war as warring factions battled for control of the country following the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre.

A humanitarian disaster ensued. To help, the U.S. became involved in the war when it sent it an elite special force to the capital city of Mogadishu in 1993 to capture warlord Farrah Aidid, whose men had been attaching U.N. peacekeepers. The operation failed as 18 Americans and scores of Somalis died. President Bill Clinton ordered all special forces out of the country in 1994. The disastrous mission was chronicled in both the book and movie, “Black Hawk Down.” (Check out the best war movies of all time.)

Here are countries currently at war.

29. Somalia

• Date started: Jan 27, 1991
• Type of conflict: Civil war
• Forces currently involved: Somali Democratic Republic, Ethiopia, Islamic Courts Union, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Islamic State
• Population (2021): 17,065,580

28. Democratic Republic of Congo

• Date started: Nov 13, 1996 (tied)
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Allied Democratic Forces, Islamic State
• Population (2021): 95,894,120

27. Uganda

• Date started: Nov 13, 1996 (tied)
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Allied Democratic Forces, Islamic State
• Population (2021): 45,853,780

26. Afghanistan

• Date started: Oct 7, 2021
• Type of conflict: Civil war/terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Afghanistan, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIL
• Population (2021): 40,099,460

25. Algeria

• Date started: Apr 11, 2002
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Algeria, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Tunisia, Al-Qaeda, Ansar al-Sharia, ISIL, Salafia Jihadia, GSPC
• Population (2021): 44,177,970

24. Sudan

• Date started: Feb 26, 2003
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Sudan Revolutionary Front, Justice and Equality Movement, Sudan Liberation Army, Sudan, South Sudan
• Population (2021): 45,657,200

23. Iraq

• Date started: Mar 20, 2003
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency/political unrest
• Forces currently involved: Iraq, Islamic State
• Population (2021): 43,533,590

22. Mexico

• Date started: Dec 11, 2006
• Type of conflict: Drug war
• Forces currently involved: Mexico, Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, Gulf Cartel, and numerous other cartels
• Population (2021): 126,705,140

21. Mauritania

Mauritanian troops stage borde... (CC BY 2.0) by Magharebia

• Date started: Feb 6, 2007
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Tunisia, Al-Qaeda
• Population (2021): 4,614,970

20. Nigeria

• Date started: Jul 26, 2009 (tied)
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin, Boko Haram, ISIL, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Ansaru, Ghana
• Population (2021): 213,401,320

19. Benin

• Date started: Jul 26, 2009 (tied)
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin, Boko Haram, ISIL, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Ansaru, Ghana
• Population (2021): 12,996,900

18. Cameroon

• Date started: Jul 26, 2009 (tied)
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin, Boko Haram, ISIL, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Ansaru, Ghana
• Population (2021): 27,198,630

17. Chad

• Date started: Jul 26, 2009 (tied)
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin, Boko Haram, ISIL, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Ansaru, Ghana
• Population (2021): 17,179,740

16. Ghana

• Date started: Jul 26, 2009 (tied)
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin, Boko Haram, ISIL, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Ansaru, Ghana
• Population (2021): 32,833,030

15. Niger

• Date started: Jul 26, 2009 (tied)
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin, Boko Haram, ISIL, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Ansaru, Ghana
• Population (2021): 25,252,720

14. South Sudan

• Date started: Jan 7, 2011
• Type of conflict: Ethnic violence
• Forces currently involved: South Sudan, Sudan, Nuer White Army, Wau State Insurgents
• Population (2021): 10,748,270

13. Libya

• Date started: Feb 27, 2011
• Type of conflict: Civil war
• Forces currently involved: Tobruk-led Government, Libyan National Army, Government of National Accord and Allies, National Salvation Government, Mujahedeen Councils of Derna, Benghazi and Adjabiya, Tuareg forces, and some local forces
• Population (2021): 6,735,280

12. Syria

• Date started: Mar 15, 2011
• Type of conflict: Civil war
• Forces currently involved: Syria, Iran, Russia, Hezbollah, Syrian Salvation Government, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State, Maghaweir al-Thowra
• Population (2021): 21,324,370

11. Mali

• Date started: Jan 16, 2012
• Type of conflict: Civil war/terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Mali, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State, Boko Haram
• Population (2021): 21,904,980

10. Central African Republic

• Date started: Dec 10, 2012
• Type of conflict: Civil war
• Forces currently involved: Central African Republic, Lord’s Resistance Army, Coalition of Patriots for Change
• Population (2021): 5,457,150

9. Yemen

• Date started: Sep 16, 2014
• Type of conflict: Civil war
• Forces currently involved: Government of Yemen, Houthis-led Supreme Political Council, Pro-Hadi/Alimi Security forces, Yemen National Army, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State, and non-aligned tribal forces
• Population (2021): 32,981,640

8. Tunisia

• Date started: Jun 26, 2015
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Tunisia, Algeria, Islamic State, Ansar al-Sharia
• Population (2021): 12,262,950

7. Burkina Faso

• Date started: Aug 23, 2015
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Burkina Faso, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State
• Population (2021): 22,100,680

6. Mozambique

• Date started: Oct 5, 2017 (tied)
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ansar al Sunna, Islamic State, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)
• Population (2021): 32,077,070

5. Tanzania

Tanzania (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Cu00c3u00a9sar Gonzu00c3u00a1lez Palomo

• Date started: Oct 5, 2017 (tied)
• Type of conflict: Terrorist insurgency
• Forces currently involved: Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ansar al Sunna, Islamic State, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)
• Population (2021): 63,588,330

4. Ethiopia

• Date started: Nov 3, 2020
• Type of conflict: Civil war
• Forces currently involved: Ethiopia, Tigray People’s Liberation Front
• Population (2021): 120,283,030

3. Myanmar

• Date started: May 5, 2021
• Type of conflict: Civil war
• Forces currently involved: National Unity Government & State Administration Council
• Population (2021): 53,798,080

2. Russia

• Date started: Feb 24, 2022
• Type of conflict: Territorial dispute
• Forces currently involved: Russia, Ukraine
• Population (2021): 143,449,290

1. Ukraine

• Date started: Feb 24, 2022
• Type of conflict: Territorial dispute
• Forces currently involved: Russia, Ukraine
• Population (2021): 43,792,860