Riftrate · December 2020
World tension in December 2020
In December 2020, Riftrate averaged 25.2 (Easing), up 11.6 points from November 2020. It peaked at 35.1 on 4 December 2020 and was lowest at 9.6 on 31 December 2020.
Average25.2Easing
High35.14 December 2020
Low9.631 December 2020
Change vs November▲ +11.6average to average
The signals this monthmonthly average, 0 = calm, 100 = tense
| Signal | Average | vs Nov |
|---|---|---|
| Diplomatic rupture | 56 | ▲ +44.0 |
| Economic coercion | 52 | ▲ +29.5 |
| Terrorism & mass violence | 33 | ▲ +25.0 |
| Domestic unrest | 31 | ▲ +22.6 |
| Media tone | 15 | ▼ −22.5 |
| War & military | 25 | ▲ +15.8 |
| Geopolitical risk (GPR) | 15 | ▼ −5.5 |
| Escalation momentum | 34 | ▲ +0.3 |
December 2020 in context
By its average, December 2020 was the 99th 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 5.1 points lower than in December 2019 (30.4). The countries whose news was most about armed violence: Afghanistan (20.6%), Ethiopia (17.5%), Yemen (17.4%).
Day by day
| Day | Riftrate | Zone | Day change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 December 2020 | 9.6 | Complacency | ▼ −0.5 |
| 30 December 2020 | 10.1 | Complacency | ▼ −1.8 |
| 29 December 2020 | 11.9 | Complacency | ▼ −3.1 |
| 28 December 2020 | 15.0 | Complacency | ▼ −4.1 |
| 27 December 2020 | 19.1 | Complacency | ▼ −1.8 |
| 26 December 2020 | 20.9 | Complacency | ▼ −2.1 |
| 25 December 2020 | 23.0 | Complacency | ▼ −4.0 |
| 24 December 2020 | 26.9 | Easing | ▼ −2.2 |
| 23 December 2020 | 29.2 | Easing | ▲ +0.4 |
| 22 December 2020 | 28.8 | Easing | ▲ +0.5 |
| 21 December 2020 | 28.3 | Easing | ▲ +1.6 |
| 20 December 2020 | 26.6 | Easing | ▼ −0.4 |
| 19 December 2020 | 27.1 | Easing | ▼ −0.9 |
| 18 December 2020 | 28.0 | Easing | ▼ −0.6 |
| 17 December 2020 | 28.6 | Easing | ▼ −0.2 |
| 16 December 2020 | 28.8 | Easing | ▲ +1.0 |
| 15 December 2020 | 27.8 | Easing | ▲ +0.9 |
| 14 December 2020 | 26.9 | Easing | ▲ +0.4 |
| 13 December 2020 | 26.5 | Easing | ▲ +0.9 |
| 12 December 2020 | 25.7 | Easing | ▲ +0.5 |
| 11 December 2020 | 25.1 | Easing | ▲ +0.9 |
| 10 December 2020 | 24.2 | Complacency | ▲ +0.9 |
| 9 December 2020 | 23.3 | Complacency | ▼ −1.0 |
| 8 December 2020 | 24.3 | Complacency | ▼ −2.0 |
| 7 December 2020 | 26.3 | Easing | ▼ −2.2 |
| 6 December 2020 | 28.5 | Easing | ▼ −4.1 |
| 5 December 2020 | 32.6 | Easing | ▼ −2.5 |
| 4 December 2020 | 35.1 | Easing | ▲ +1.2 |
| 3 December 2020 | 34.0 | Easing | ▲ +2.3 |
| 2 December 2020 | 31.7 | Easing | ▲ +3.0 |
| 1 December 2020 | 28.7 | Easing | ▲ +3.0 |
Frequently asked questions
How tense was the world in December 2020?
Riftrate, the index of world tension from 0 (calm) to 100 (crisis), averaged 25.2 (Easing) in December 2020: the 99th tensest of 104 months since March 2018.
What was the tensest day of December 2020?
4 December 2020, when Riftrate read 35.1 (Easing).
Which countries were most tense in December 2020?
Afghanistan (20.6% of its news about armed violence), Ethiopia (17.5% of its news about armed violence), Yemen (17.4% of its news about armed violence).