RIFTRATE Get the gauge

World tension in May 2023

In May 2023, Riftrate averaged 72.0 (Tension), down 4.7 points from April 2023. It peaked at 75.2 on 15 May 2023 and was lowest at 67.6 on 30 May 2023.

Average72.0Tension
High75.215 May 2023
Low67.630 May 2023
Change vs April▼ −4.7average to average
Riftrate · May 2023
025507510016 Apr23 Apr30 Apr7 May14 May21 May28 May
The signals this monthmonthly average, 0 = calm, 100 = tense
SignalAveragevs Apr
Media tone4▼ −15.1
Escalation momentum31▼ −12.0
Diplomatic rupture94▼ −4.6
Economic coercion59▼ −2.7
Geopolitical risk (GPR)50▼ −2.6
Domestic unrest99▼ −0.6
Terrorism & mass violence99▼ −0.5
War & military99▼ −0.4

May 2023 in context

By its average, May 2023 was the 13th tensest of 104 months since March 2018. Riftrate spent 31 of its 31 days in Tension or Crisis and 0 in Easing or Complacency. That is 6.4 points lower than in May 2022 (78.4). The countries whose news was most about armed violence: Gaza and the West Bank (34.3%), Burkina Faso (21.3%), Myanmar (19.0%).

Day by day
DayRiftrateZoneDay change
31 May 202369.4Tension▲ +1.8
30 May 202367.6Tension▼ −0.9
29 May 202368.5Tension▼ −1.2
28 May 202369.6Tension▼ −0.5
27 May 202370.1Tension▼ −1.2
26 May 202371.3Tension▼ −1.9
25 May 202373.2Tension▲ +0.1
24 May 202373.2Tension▲ +0.6
23 May 202372.6Tension▲ +0.3
22 May 202372.3Tension▼ −0.7
21 May 202373.0Tension0.0
20 May 202373.0Tension▲ +0.3
19 May 202372.7Tension▲ +0.2
18 May 202372.5Tension▼ −1.3
17 May 202373.8Tension▼ −1.3
16 May 202375.2Tension0.0
15 May 202375.2Tension▲ +0.7
14 May 202374.5Tension▲ +0.5
13 May 202374.0Tension▲ +1.4
12 May 202372.6Tension▲ +1.7
11 May 202370.8Tension▲ +0.1
10 May 202370.7Tension▼ −0.2
9 May 202371.0Tension▲ +0.3
8 May 202370.7Tension▼ −1.0
7 May 202371.7Tension▼ −0.4
6 May 202372.1Tension▼ −0.1
5 May 202372.1Tension▼ −0.5
4 May 202372.7Tension▲ +0.9
3 May 202371.8Tension▲ +0.2
2 May 202371.5Tension▼ −2.0
1 May 202373.5Tension▼ −0.9
Previous: April 2023All of 2023Next: June 2023

Frequently asked questions

How tense was the world in May 2023?

Riftrate, the index of world tension from 0 (calm) to 100 (crisis), averaged 72.0 (Tension) in May 2023: the 13th tensest of 104 months since March 2018.

What was the tensest day of May 2023?

15 May 2023, when Riftrate read 75.2 (Tension).

Which countries were most tense in May 2023?

Gaza and the West Bank (34.3% of its news about armed violence), Burkina Faso (21.3% of its news about armed violence), Myanmar (19.0% of its news about armed violence).