RIFTRATE Get the gauge

World tension in January 2025

In January 2025, Riftrate averaged 36.6 (Easing), down 8.1 points from December 2024. It peaked at 47.9 on 29 January 2025 and was lowest at 30.3 on 22 January 2025.

Average36.6Easing
High47.929 January 2025
Low30.322 January 2025
Change vs December▼ −8.1average to average
Riftrate · January 2025
025507510017 Dec24 Dec31 Dec7 Jan14 Jan21 Jan28 Jan
The signals this monthmonthly average, 0 = calm, 100 = tense
SignalAveragevs Dec
Geopolitical risk (GPR)42▼ −28.4
Economic coercion52▲ +18.9
War & military32▼ −13.6
Escalation momentum35▲ +7.6
Media tone46▲ +7.0
Domestic unrest29▼ −5.6
Terrorism & mass violence50▼ −4.9
Diplomatic rupture37▲ +1.4

January 2025 in context

By its average, January 2025 was the 83rd 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 37.6 points lower than in January 2024 (74.3). The countries whose news was most about armed violence: Yemen (28.3%), Gaza and the West Bank (27.5%), North Korea (20.2%). Also this month: Gaza ceasefire takes effect (19 January 2025).

Day by day
DayRiftrateZoneDay change
31 January 202546.4Neutral▼ −1.4
30 January 202547.8Neutral▼ −0.1
29 January 202547.9Neutral▲ +1.6
28 January 202546.3Neutral▲ +4.8
27 January 202541.5Easing▲ +4.4
26 January 202537.1Easing▲ +2.2
25 January 202535.0Easing▲ +1.7
24 January 202533.3Easing▲ +2.2
23 January 202531.1Easing▲ +0.8
22 January 202530.3Easing▼ −0.5
21 January 202530.8Easing▼ −1.5
20 January 202532.2Easing▼ −0.3
19 January 202532.5Easing▼ −0.3
18 January 202532.9Easing▼ −0.4
17 January 202533.2Easing▼ −0.9
16 January 202534.1Easing▼ −0.7
15 January 202534.8Easing▲ +0.8
14 January 202534.0Easing▼ −0.5
13 January 202534.5Easing▼ −1.1
12 January 202535.6Easing▼ −1.2
11 January 202536.8Easing▼ −0.9
10 January 202537.7Easing▼ −0.8
9 January 202538.5Easing▲ +0.1
8 January 202538.4Easing▲ +1.7
7 January 202536.8Easing▲ +1.6
6 January 202535.2Easing▲ +0.4
5 January 202534.8Easing▼ −0.8
4 January 202535.6Easing▼ −1.2
3 January 202536.9Easing▼ −0.3
2 January 202537.2Easing▲ +0.5
1 January 202536.8Easing▼ −0.5
Previous: December 2024All of 2025Next: February 2025

Frequently asked questions

How tense was the world in January 2025?

Riftrate, the index of world tension from 0 (calm) to 100 (crisis), averaged 36.6 (Easing) in January 2025: the 83rd tensest of 104 months since March 2018.

What was the tensest day of January 2025?

29 January 2025, when Riftrate read 47.9 (Neutral).

Which countries were most tense in January 2025?

Yemen (28.3% of its news about armed violence), Gaza and the West Bank (27.5% of its news about armed violence), North Korea (20.2% of its news about armed violence).