RIFTRATE Get the gauge

World tension in April 2026

In April 2026, Riftrate averaged 56.9 (Tension), down 28.7 points from March 2026. It peaked at 75.0 on 1 April 2026 and was lowest at 45.1 on 20 April 2026.

Average56.9Tension
High75.01 April 2026
Low45.120 April 2026
Change vs March▼ −28.7average to average
Riftrate · April 2026
025507510017 Mar24 Mar31 Mar7 Apr14 Apr21 Apr28 Apr
The signals this monthmonthly average, 0 = calm, 100 = tense
SignalAveragevs Mar
Escalation momentum35▼ −60.1
War & military48▼ −39.4
Terrorism & mass violence51▼ −34.2
Media tone69▼ −23.3
Diplomatic rupture63▼ −22.6
Domestic unrest17▼ −13.4
Economic coercion19▼ −5.4
Geopolitical risk (GPR)98▼ −1.9

April 2026 in context

By its average, April 2026 was the 39th tensest of 104 months since March 2018. Riftrate spent 13 of its 30 days in Tension or Crisis and 0 in Easing or Complacency. That is 6.0 points higher than in April 2025 (50.8). The countries whose news was most about armed violence: Gaza and the West Bank (28.4%), Yemen (22.4%), Lebanon (22.3%).

Day by day
DayRiftrateZoneDay change
30 April 202649.1Neutral▼ −0.8
29 April 202649.9Neutral0.0
28 April 202649.9Neutral▲ +0.5
27 April 202649.4Neutral▲ +0.6
26 April 202648.9Neutral▲ +1.4
25 April 202647.5Neutral▲ +1.1
24 April 202646.4Neutral▲ +0.6
23 April 202645.9Neutral▼ −0.2
22 April 202646.0Neutral▲ +0.7
21 April 202645.3Neutral▲ +0.3
20 April 202645.1Neutral0.0
19 April 202645.1Neutral▼ −0.2
18 April 202645.3Neutral▼ −1.1
17 April 202646.4Neutral▼ −2.4
16 April 202648.7Neutral▼ −2.7
15 April 202651.4Neutral▼ −3.5
14 April 202654.9Neutral▼ −4.1
13 April 202659.0Tension▼ −3.3
12 April 202662.4Tension▼ −3.6
11 April 202665.9Tension▼ −2.4
10 April 202668.4Tension▼ −0.1
9 April 202668.4Tension▲ +0.9
8 April 202667.5Tension0.0
7 April 202667.5Tension▼ −0.8
6 April 202668.3Tension▼ −1.9
5 April 202670.3Tension▼ −1.2
4 April 202671.5Tension▼ −1.0
3 April 202672.5Tension▼ −1.2
2 April 202673.7Tension▼ −1.3
1 April 202675.0Tension▼ −0.2
Previous: March 2026All of 2026Next: May 2026

Frequently asked questions

How tense was the world in April 2026?

Riftrate, the index of world tension from 0 (calm) to 100 (crisis), averaged 56.9 (Tension) in April 2026: the 39th tensest of 104 months since March 2018.

What was the tensest day of April 2026?

1 April 2026, when Riftrate read 75.0 (Tension).

Which countries were most tense in April 2026?

Gaza and the West Bank (28.4% of its news about armed violence), Yemen (22.4% of its news about armed violence), Lebanon (22.3% of its news about armed violence).