GTI: Terrorism remains persistent security challenge for PH
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ latest ranking in the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) underscores the persistent security challenge terrorism poses to the country, a data expert said.
Based on data from the Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace, the Philippines ranked 20th out of 163 countries in the 2025 edition of the GTI, with a score of 5.17 on a 10-point scale, with 10 as the worst.
Published annually, the GTI uses a composite score of terrorism incidents, deaths, injuries, and hostages over a five-year period to provide a longer-term picture of the impact of terrorism rather than focusing on isolated events.
Dr. Alicor Panao, Inquirer data scientist and University of the Philippines associate professor, said the Philippines remains among the countries most affected by terrorism in the Asia-Pacific.
Based on the GTI, the Philippines ranked slightly better than Myanmar, which has seen an escalation in violence linked to political instability. Myanmar scored 6.93 and ranked 11th out of 163.
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With fewer terrorism-related incidents, deaths, injuries, and hostages in recent years, Thailand and Indonesia scored lower than both Myanmar and the Philippines, with 4.63 and 4.17, respectively.
As Panao pointed out, “Indonesia has faced Islamist militancy in the past, yet now records fewer incidents and casualties, highlighting divergent security trajectories within comparable political contexts.”
“Comparisons within Southeast Asia are particularly instructive because countries in the region share broadly similar development levels, security institutions, and exposure to internal armed groups,” he said.
China, Japan and South Korea registered far lower scores because of the rarity and limited impact of terrorist attacks, Panao said in his analysis of the 2025 GTI.
For the Philippines, Panao said the result indicates how terrorism has become a recurring security challenge and a development obstacle.
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Terrorism, he said, is a serious concern, especially in “key areas where persistent instability raises public costs, discourages investment, and complicates long-term planning.”
The Philippines recorded 31 deaths from 22 attacks in the previous year, making it the second most impacted by terrorism in the region, the GTI said.
RELATED STORY: Over 2,300 alleged terrorists, supporters ‘neutralized’ in 2025 – AFP
On Jan. 6, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said a total of 2,306 alleged terrorists and their supporters were “neutralized” by the government in 2025.
