RIFTRATE Get the gauge

World tension in March 2021

In March 2021, Riftrate averaged 59.0 (Tension), up 14.3 points from February 2021. It peaked at 79.3 on 4 March 2021 and was lowest at 36.2 on 14 March 2021.

Average59.0Tension
High79.34 March 2021
Low36.214 March 2021
Change vs February▲ +14.3average to average
Riftrate · March 2021
025507510014 Feb21 Feb28 Feb7 Mar14 Mar21 Mar28 Mar
The signals this monthmonthly average, 0 = calm, 100 = tense
SignalAveragevs Feb
War & military73▲ +28.1
Economic coercion82▲ +21.2
Geopolitical risk (GPR)33▲ +10.2
Escalation momentum63▲ +7.1
Media tone41▼ −6.5
Terrorism & mass violence54▲ +4.3
Diplomatic rupture48▲ +1.1
Domestic unrest70▼ −0.1

March 2021 in context

By its average, March 2021 was the 34th tensest of 104 months since March 2018. Riftrate spent 21 of its 31 days in Tension or Crisis and 6 in Easing or Complacency. That is 30.9 points higher than in March 2020 (28.2). The countries whose news was most about armed violence: Yemen (23.5%), Niger (19.8%), Mozambique (19.8%).

Day by day
DayRiftrateZoneDay change
31 March 202163.3Tension▼ −0.9
30 March 202164.2Tension▼ −1.4
29 March 202165.6Tension▼ −0.3
28 March 202165.8Tension▲ +0.8
27 March 202165.0Tension▲ +0.3
26 March 202164.7Tension0.0
25 March 202164.7Tension▼ −0.5
24 March 202165.2Tension▲ +1.7
23 March 202163.5Tension▲ +3.4
22 March 202160.0Tension▲ +2.9
21 March 202157.2Tension▲ +1.5
20 March 202155.7Tension▲ +1.5
19 March 202154.2Neutral▲ +4.1
18 March 202150.1Neutral▲ +5.1
17 March 202145.0Neutral▲ +4.3
16 March 202140.8Easing▲ +3.1
15 March 202137.6Easing▲ +1.4
14 March 202136.2Easing▼ −1.0
13 March 202137.3Easing▼ −2.1
12 March 202139.4Easing▼ −4.1
11 March 202143.5Easing▼ −6.1
10 March 202149.6Neutral▼ −8.8
9 March 202158.4Tension▼ −7.7
8 March 202166.0Tension▼ −4.1
7 March 202170.1Tension▼ −4.5
6 March 202174.6Tension▼ −3.8
5 March 202178.4Crisis▼ −0.9
4 March 202179.3Crisis▲ +3.7
3 March 202175.7Crisis▲ +4.8
2 March 202170.9Tension▲ +3.4
1 March 202167.6Tension▲ +3.0
Previous: February 2021All of 2021Next: April 2021

Frequently asked questions

How tense was the world in March 2021?

Riftrate, the index of world tension from 0 (calm) to 100 (crisis), averaged 59.0 (Tension) in March 2021: the 34th tensest of 104 months since March 2018.

What was the tensest day of March 2021?

4 March 2021, when Riftrate read 79.3 (Crisis).

Which countries were most tense in March 2021?

Yemen (23.5% of its news about armed violence), Niger (19.8% of its news about armed violence), Mozambique (19.8% of its news about armed violence).