Peoples under Threat 2014
Peoples under Threat is Minority Rights Group’s annual authoritative rankings table which highlights those countries around the world where the risk of mass killing is greatest.
Peoples under Threat is created by compiling data on the known antecedents to genocide or mass political killing. While the individual indicators describe the current situation – what is happening – the index as a whole seeks to predict what may happen.
As an early warning tool, Peoples under Threat has been widely used by UN officials and other human rights and conflict prevention practitioners. Almost all the significant episodes of civilian killing that occurred over the last year took place in countries which were near the top of, or major risers in, 2013’s Peoples under Threat table.
New online map shows Middle East, Africa states dominate Peoples under Threat 2014 survey on risk of mass killing
Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, South Sudan, Central African Republic and Egypt are among the most significant risers in this year’s Peoples under Threat index.
‘A number of states which rose prominently in the index over the last two years – including South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Syria – have subsequently faced episodes of extreme ethnic or sectarian violence,’ says Mark Lattimer, MRG’s Executive Director. ‘The 2014 release of Peoples under Threat analysis shows that the risk in those states remains critical – but also that threat levels have risen in other states.’
The Peoples under Threat survey seeks to identify those peoples or groups that are most under threat of genocide, mass killing or other systematic violent repression in 2014, and for the first time is being launched today by MRG as an online map.
Major risers since 2013
| Rank | Rise in rank since 2013 | Country | Group | Total |
| 3 | 3 | Syria | Political targets, Shi’a/Alawites, Assyrians, Kurds, Palestinians | 21.61 |
| 4 | 4 | Dem. Rep. of the Congo | Hema and Lendu, Hutu, Luba, Lunda, Tutsi/Banyamulenge, Batwa/Bambuti, other groups | 20.98 |
| 10 | 1 | Yemen | Zaydi Shi’a, ‘Akhdam’, Southerners | 18.58 |
| 12 | 2 | South Sudan | Murle, Nuer, Dinka, Anuak, Jie, Kachipo | 17.71 |
| 14 | 3 | Central African Republic | Muslims, Christians, Kaba (Sara), Mboum, Mbororo, Gula, Aka | 15.88 |
| 17 | 8 | Mali | Tuaregs, Arabs, Maure, and others in the north | 15.47 |
| 23 | 33 | Egypt | Copts, Shi’a, Bahá’ís, Nubians, Bedouin | 14.12 |
| 30 | 6 | Turkey | Kurds, Alevis, Roma, Armenians and other Christians | 12.86 |
| 40 | 18 | Guinea Bissau | Balanta, Fula (Fulani), Manjaco, Mandinga, Papel, Ejamat (Felupe), Jola (Diola), Susu, Cape Verdeans | 12.10 |
| 60 | New entry | Ukraine | Tatars, Krymchak and Karaites in Crimea; Russians, Hungarians, Moldovans and other national minorities | 10.91 |
Download the full Peoples under Threat table as a PDF file
Peoples most under threat – highest rated countries 2014
| Rank | Country | Group | Total |
| 1 | Somalia | Minorities incl. Bantu, Benadiri and ‘caste’ groups (Gabooye etc.); clan members at risk in fighting incl. Hawiye, Darod, etc. | 23.34 |
| 2 | Sudan | Fur, Zaghawa, Massalit and others in Darfur; Ngok Dinka, Nuba, Beja | 21.63 |
| 3 | Syria | Political targets, Shi’a/Alawites, Christians, Kurds, Palestinians | 21.61 |
| 4 | Dem. Rep of the Congo | Hema and Lendu, Hutu, Luba, Lunda, Tutsi/Banyamulenge, Batwa/Bambuti, other groups | 20.98 |
| 5 | Afghanistan | Hazara, Pashtun, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Baluchis | 20.96 |
| 6 | Iraq | Shi’a, Sunnis, Kurds, Turkmen, Christians, Mandaeans, Yezidis, Shabak, Faili Kurds, Bahá’ís, Palestinians | 20.67 |
| 7 | Pakistan | Shi’a (incl. Hazara), Ahmadiyya, Hindus and other religious minorities; Baluchis, Mohhajirs, Pashtun, Sindhis | 20.49 |
| 8 | Burma/Myanmar | Kachin, Karenni, Karen, Mons, Rakhine, Rohingyas, Shan, Chin (Zomis), Wa | 19.69 |
| 9 | Ethiopia | Anuak, Afars, Oromo, Somalis, smaller minorities | 19.18 |
| 10 | Yemen | Zaydi Shi’a, ‘Akhdam’, Southerners | 18.58 |
Download the full Peoples under Threat table as a PDF file
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