RIFTRATE Get the gauge

World tension in October 2020

In October 2020, Riftrate averaged 24.6 (Easing), down 18.0 points from September 2020. It peaked at 48.9 on 2 October 2020 and was lowest at 14.8 on 16 October 2020.

Average24.6Easing
High48.92 October 2020
Low14.816 October 2020
Change vs September▼ −18.0average to average
Riftrate · October 2020
025507510016 Sep23 Sep30 Sep7 Oct14 Oct21 Oct28 Oct
The signals this monthmonthly average, 0 = calm, 100 = tense
SignalAveragevs Sep
Domestic unrest8▼ −52.3
Diplomatic rupture8▼ −43.1
Economic coercion36▼ −34.6
War & military11▼ −26.7
Escalation momentum57▲ +20.7
Terrorism & mass violence5▼ −19.1
Media tone84▲ +16.1
Geopolitical risk (GPR)31▼ −2.7

October 2020 in context

By its average, October 2020 was the 100th tensest of 104 months since March 2018. Riftrate spent 0 of its 31 days in Tension or Crisis and 27 in Easing or Complacency. That is 20.6 points lower than in October 2019 (45.3). The countries whose news was most about armed violence: Azerbaijan (24.7%), Armenia (22.9%), Afghanistan (16.9%).

Day by day
DayRiftrateZoneDay change
31 October 202029.4Easing▼ −0.2
30 October 202029.5Easing▲ +2.0
29 October 202027.5Easing▲ +2.3
28 October 202025.3Easing▲ +3.3
27 October 202021.9Complacency▲ +4.3
26 October 202017.6Complacency▲ +1.7
25 October 202016.0Complacency▼ −0.7
24 October 202016.7Complacency▼ −1.0
23 October 202017.7Complacency▼ −0.6
22 October 202018.2Complacency▲ +0.1
21 October 202018.1Complacency▲ +1.2
20 October 202017.0Complacency▲ +0.4
19 October 202016.5Complacency▲ +0.7
18 October 202015.8Complacency▲ +0.7
17 October 202015.1Complacency▲ +0.4
16 October 202014.8Complacency▼ −0.5
15 October 202015.2Complacency▼ −1.1
14 October 202016.3Complacency▼ −1.7
13 October 202018.0Complacency▼ −0.9
12 October 202018.9Complacency▼ −0.9
11 October 202019.8Complacency▼ −1.1
10 October 202021.0Complacency▼ −0.9
9 October 202021.9Complacency▼ −3.7
8 October 202025.6Easing▼ −2.6
7 October 202028.3Easing▼ −4.5
6 October 202032.8Easing▼ −6.2
5 October 202039.0Easing▼ −5.6
4 October 202044.7Neutral▼ −3.6
3 October 202048.3Neutral▼ −0.6
2 October 202048.9Neutral▲ +0.7
1 October 202048.2Neutral▲ +0.6
Previous: September 2020All of 2020Next: November 2020

Frequently asked questions

How tense was the world in October 2020?

Riftrate, the index of world tension from 0 (calm) to 100 (crisis), averaged 24.6 (Easing) in October 2020: the 100th tensest of 104 months since March 2018.

What was the tensest day of October 2020?

2 October 2020, when Riftrate read 48.9 (Neutral).

Which countries were most tense in October 2020?

Azerbaijan (24.7% of its news about armed violence), Armenia (22.9% of its news about armed violence), Afghanistan (16.9% of its news about armed violence).