Violence worldwide has inflicted a growing economic burden, with global costs rising sharply over the past 16 years.
According to data compiled by Statista, the economic impact of conflict deaths alone surged from US$11 billion in 2008 to US$52 billion in 2024, an increase of 421 per cent.
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Similarly, GDP losses resulting from conflicts jumped from US$90 billion to US$462 billion, reflecting a 412 per cent increase.
The financial toll extends beyond direct losses. The costs associated with refugees and internally displaced persons grew from US$113 billion in 2008 to US$353 billion in 2024, marking a 212 per cent rise.
Military expenditure also rose, albeit more moderately, from US$7.674 trillion to US$9.034 trillion, while internal security expenditure increased from US$5.325 trillion to US$5.717 trillion.
These figures, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) using 2024 price levels, underscore the rising economic pressures that violent conflicts place on societies.
The data highlights the complex interplay between human and economic costs, showing that while military and security spending has increased steadily, the indirect costs of conflicts—through deaths, displacement, and GDP losses—have escalated far more dramatically.
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