RIFTRATE Get the gauge

World tension in August 2026

In August 2026, Riftrate averaged 44.3 (Easing), down 5.5 points from July 2026. It peaked at 69.5 on 1 August 2026 and was lowest at 31.7 on 15 August 2026.

Average44.3Easing
High69.51 August 2026
Low31.715 August 2026
Change vs July▼ −5.5average to average
Riftrate · August 2026
025507510017 Jul24 Jul31 Jul7 Aug14 Aug21 Aug28 Aug
The signals this monthmonthly average, 0 = calm, 100 = tense
SignalAveragevs Jul
Geopolitical risk (GPR)48▼ −21.5
Media tone56▲ +15.8
Escalation momentum64▼ −12.6
Terrorism & mass violence41▼ −11.3
Domestic unrest16▼ −4.1
War & military47▼ −4.1
Economic coercion26▲ +3.6
Diplomatic rupture46▲ +1.2

August 2026 in context

By its average, August 2026 was the 62nd tensest of 104 months since March 2018. Riftrate spent 6 of its 31 days in Tension or Crisis and 18 in Easing or Complacency. That is 6.3 points lower than in August 2025 (50.6). The countries whose news was most about armed violence: Yemen (31.4%), Gaza and the West Bank (29.3%), Ukraine (18.9%).

Day by day
DayRiftrateZoneDay change
31 August 202635.3Easing▼ −1.5
30 August 202636.9Easing▼ −1.7
29 August 202638.6Easing▼ −2.3
28 August 202640.9Easing▼ −2.2
27 August 202643.0Easing▼ −1.6
26 August 202644.7Neutral▼ −0.9
25 August 202645.6Neutral▼ −1.2
24 August 202646.8Neutral▲ +0.4
23 August 202646.4Neutral▲ +0.8
22 August 202645.6Neutral▲ +2.7
21 August 202642.9Easing▲ +2.3
20 August 202640.5Easing▲ +2.7
19 August 202637.9Easing▲ +1.4
18 August 202636.5Easing▲ +2.6
17 August 202633.9Easing▲ +1.5
16 August 202632.4Easing▲ +0.7
15 August 202631.7Easing▼ −0.1
14 August 202631.8Easing▼ −0.5
13 August 202632.3Easing▼ −1.1
12 August 202633.4Easing▼ −1.6
11 August 202635.0Easing▼ −3.0
10 August 202638.0Easing▼ −4.4
9 August 202642.4Easing▼ −4.6
8 August 202647.0Neutral▼ −4.5
7 August 202651.5Neutral▼ −4.3
6 August 202655.8Tension▼ −5.5
5 August 202661.3Tension▼ −2.7
4 August 202663.9Tension▼ −1.5
3 August 202665.4Tension▼ −1.9
2 August 202667.3Tension▼ −2.2
1 August 202669.5Tension▼ −1.8
Previous: July 2026All of 2026Next: September 2026

Frequently asked questions

How tense was the world in August 2026?

Riftrate, the index of world tension from 0 (calm) to 100 (crisis), averaged 44.3 (Easing) in August 2026: the 62nd tensest of 104 months since March 2018.

What was the tensest day of August 2026?

1 August 2026, when Riftrate read 69.5 (Tension).

Which countries were most tense in August 2026?

Yemen (31.4% of its news about armed violence), Gaza and the West Bank (29.3% of its news about armed violence), Ukraine (18.9% of its news about armed violence).