Headline: India Leads in Global Demonstrations for Fifth Consecutive Year
On October 10, 2026, police in New Delhi used batons to disperse a crowd gathered at Connaught Place for a protest organized by the Campaign for Justice and Peace (CJP). This scene reflects the ongoing trend of public demonstrations in India, which, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), has seen a significant surge.
ACLED, a nonprofit organization based in the United States that monitors incidents of political violence and protests worldwide, reports that India has consistently led the globe in the number of demonstrations over the past five years. So far in 2026, India recorded a remarkable 18,074 demonstrations, making up 17.5% of the total protests globally.
The data indicates that the number of demonstrations in India peaked at 22,130 in 2024, a year when general elections took place. This figure then slightly decreased to 20,606 in 2025. Over recent years, India’s share of worldwide demonstrations has steadily increased, while the share from the United States has declined.
For context, India accounted for 10.6% of global demonstrations in 2020, which grew to 16.4% in 2024 and further to 17.5% by September 2026. In contrast, the percentage of protests in the US fell from 16.2% in 2020 to only 7.8% in 2024, before edging up to 11.2% this year.
Following India and the US, Pakistan ranks in third place regarding the global demonstration landscape.
ACLED defines demonstrations as public gatherings where individuals come together to express their opinions, concerns, or demands. This includes various forms of protests, rallies, and marches, but does not cover acts of mob violence.
As this trend continues, it reflects the growing public engagement and the evolution of civic actions in India.
