RIFTRATE Get the gauge

World tension in May 2020

In May 2020, Riftrate averaged 20.8 (Complacency), up 7.7 points from April 2020. It peaked at 40.1 on 31 May 2020 and was lowest at 9.7 on 1 May 2020.

Average20.8Complacency
High40.131 May 2020
Low9.71 May 2020
Change vs April▲ +7.7average to average
Riftrate · May 2020
025507510016 Apr23 Apr30 Apr7 May14 May21 May28 May
The signals this monthmonthly average, 0 = calm, 100 = tense
SignalAveragevs Apr
Escalation momentum70▲ +60.6
Media tone76▼ −13.0
Economic coercion13▲ +10.0
War & military8▲ +6.1
Domestic unrest6▲ +5.9
Diplomatic rupture45▼ −5.8
Terrorism & mass violence4▲ +4.2
Geopolitical risk (GPR)18▼ −2.0

May 2020 in context

By its average, May 2020 was the 102nd tensest of 104 months since March 2018. Riftrate spent 0 of its 31 days in Tension or Crisis and 31 in Easing or Complacency. That is 24.3 points lower than in May 2019 (45.1). The countries whose news was most about armed violence: Syria (19.5%), Yemen (19.5%), Afghanistan (19.0%).

Day by day
DayRiftrateZoneDay change
31 May 202040.1Easing▲ +8.3
30 May 202031.8Easing▲ +5.8
29 May 202026.1Easing▲ +2.1
28 May 202024.0Complacency0.0
27 May 202024.0Complacency▼ −1.1
26 May 202025.1Easing▼ −0.4
25 May 202025.6Easing▼ −1.4
24 May 202027.0Easing▼ −2.2
23 May 202029.2Easing▲ +0.8
22 May 202028.4Easing▲ +2.8
21 May 202025.6Easing▲ +1.0
20 May 202024.6Easing▲ +1.4
19 May 202023.2Complacency▲ +1.9
18 May 202021.3Complacency▲ +1.9
17 May 202019.3Complacency▲ +1.0
16 May 202018.4Complacency▲ +0.4
15 May 202018.0Complacency▲ +0.3
14 May 202017.6Complacency▲ +0.7
13 May 202017.0Complacency▲ +0.7
12 May 202016.3Complacency▲ +0.3
11 May 202016.0Complacency▼ −0.3
10 May 202016.3Complacency▼ −0.5
9 May 202016.8Complacency▼ −0.2
8 May 202017.1Complacency▲ +0.5
7 May 202016.5Complacency▲ +0.6
6 May 202015.9Complacency▲ +0.6
5 May 202015.3Complacency▲ +0.7
4 May 202014.5Complacency▲ +1.6
3 May 202013.0Complacency▲ +2.0
2 May 202011.0Complacency▲ +1.3
1 May 20209.7Complacency▲ +0.1
Previous: April 2020All of 2020Next: June 2020

Frequently asked questions

How tense was the world in May 2020?

Riftrate, the index of world tension from 0 (calm) to 100 (crisis), averaged 20.8 (Complacency) in May 2020: the 102nd tensest of 104 months since March 2018.

What was the tensest day of May 2020?

31 May 2020, when Riftrate read 40.1 (Easing).

Which countries were most tense in May 2020?

Syria (19.5% of its news about armed violence), Yemen (19.5% of its news about armed violence), Afghanistan (19.0% of its news about armed violence).