Cyber Warfare Statistics And Trend (2026)

Introduction

Cyber Warfare Statistics: Cyber warfare involves the planned use of digital attacks to disrupt a country’s or organisation’s critical operations and systems. These actions may damage critical services, disrupt infrastructure, and confer an advantage on the attacker. States as well as non-state groups can carry out such operations, and their effects may spread across economies, societies, and national security. Because cyber warfare is still evolving, it is often difficult to apply existing international laws to these activities.

In recent years, the boundary between state actions and criminal activity has become less clear, as many attackers use the same tools and methods. Microsoft’s reports suggest that most recorded incidents are financially motivated, whereas fewer involve classic espionage. This article summarises recent statistics and insights to explain targets, entry methods, and attacker goals.

Editor’s Choice

1. A report by Market.Us estimates that the global cyber warfare market is projected to reach approximately USD 211.6 billion by 2025, up from USD 65.4 billion in 2024.
2. Meanwhile, North America accounts for 40% of the regional cyber warfare market.
3. According to mordorintelligence.com, in 2024, defence & aerospace held the largest share at 32.4%.
4. That nation-states account for 40% of the total impact of cyber warfare.
5. By mid-2025, China was blamed for 28% of state-backed campaigns against other governments.
6. Globally, governments and companies are expected to spend USD 28.6 billion on cyber-warfare prevention in 2025 to cut security risks.
7. As of 2024, attackers launched 178 politically driven cyberattacks against the United States.
8. Russia accounted for approximately 11.1% of political cyberattacks recorded from 2023 to 2024.
9. The growth of the cyberwarfare industry increased by 20% from 2021 to 2022 and by 40% from 2022 to 2023.
10. From July 2023 to June 2024, Russian state cyber actors most often targeted the Middle East & North Africa (52%) and North America (23%).
11. The Russia-Ukraine conflict (from 2022 to date) has featured widespread wiper malware against Ukrainian organisations.
12. SQ Magazine reports that, by 2025, state-backed cyberattacks may cause USD 13.1 billion in harm (approximately 1.4% of global GDP).

Cyber Warfare Market Analysis

(Source: sp-ao.shortpixel.ai)

• The global market size for cyber warfare is projected to reach approximately USD 211.6 billion by 2025, up from USD 65.4 billion in 2024.
• The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.8% from 2025 to 2033.
• Furthermore, the market size for the coming years will reach USD 75.8 billion by 2026, USD 87.8 billion by 2027, USD 101.6 billion by 2028, USD 117.7 billion by 2029, USD 136.3 billion by 2030, USD 157.8 billion by 2031, USD 182.7 billion by 2032, and USD 211.6 billion by 2033.

By Regional Share

(Source: archivemarketresearch.com)

• North America accounts for 40% of the regional cyber warfare market, followed by Europe at 30%.
• The Asia-Pacific region accounts for 20%, while the Rest of the World makes up the remaining 10%.

Segmental Analysis of Cyber Warfare Statistics

• According to mordorintelligence.com, in 2024, defence & aerospace held the largest share at 32.4%.
• Meanwhile, healthcare is expected to grow the fastest at a 6.9% CAGR from 2025 to 2030.

Furthermore, other market segments analyses are stated in the table below:

Key Actors In The Cyber Warfare Statistics

(Reference: scirp.org)

• The pie chart above indicates that nation-states account for 40% of the total impact of cyber warfare.
• Meanwhile, non-state groups hold 25%, followed by cybercriminals (20%), hacktivists (10%), and the private sector (5%).

Nation-State Cyber Warfare Trends

• According to sqmagazine.co.uk, by mid-2025, China was blamed for 28% of state-backed campaigns against other governments.
• As of 2025, Russia accounted for 22% of offensive actions, often targeting NATO-aligned targets.
• The United States carried out at least 12 pushback moves online.
• The UK Cyber Command reported that threat engagements increased by 43% in the first six months.
• North Korea restarted coordinated raids on South Korean crypto exchanges, going after more than USD 105 million in assets.
• Iran expanded its presence in Latin America, with eight break-ins into national infrastructure.
• Team efforts also increased by 17 multinational offensives recorded in the first quarter of 2025.
• False-flag masking tactics in 15% of operations, complicating attribution.
• Election meddling attempts touched 18 countries, mainly using social lures and deepfake media.
• In the Asia-Pacific region, state activity jumped 37% in the first half of 2025, linked to Taiwan Strait tensions.

Cost Of Cyber Warfare Prevention And Mitigation

• Globally, governments and companies are expected to spend USD 28.6 billion on cyber-warfare prevention in 2025 to cut security risks.
• Meanwhile, the typical incident response time has fallen to 17 hours.
• Investment in cyber threat-intelligence platforms reached USD 6.7 billion.
• Cyber range simulations cost 40% more, and 53 nations run joint-response training.
• As of 2025, Red-team services targeting nation-state attacks may generate USD 1.1 billion.
• Each organisation spends an average of USD 740,000 on military-grade endpoint protection.
• Among Fortune 500 government contractors, 63% use cloud defense platforms.
• Multi-sector drills increased by 22%, and 72% of public institutions use breach-response retainers.
• Zero-day readiness policies grew from 39% in 2023 to 66% in 2025.

Cyber Warfare Attack Statistics By Region

United States Political Cyberattacks In 2024 By Type

(Reference: statista.com)

• As of 2024, attackers launched 178 politically driven cyberattacks against the United States.
• Critical infrastructure is termed the leading sector, accounting for 106 incidents, whereas 64 cases targeted politics without clear political motives.
• Other attack characteristics are attributed to state-affiliated groups (8 cases), non-state actors with political goals (4 cases), a nation-state (4 cases), and a politicised attack on political targets (1 case).

Global Politicised Cyber Incidents By Type

(Source: statista.com)

Top Countries By Share of Political Cyberattacks

(Reference: statista.com)

• Russia accounted for approximately 11.1% of political cyberattacks recorded from 2023 to 2024.
• Other countries’ political cyberattacks share are followed by China (9.9%), Iran (4.5%), North Korea (4.5%), Ukraine (2.5%), the United States (2%), Turkey (1.4%), Pakistan (1.3%), Unknown (24.7%), and Not attributed (27.4%).

Most Targeted Industries by the Nation-state Cyber Threat

Cyber Warfare Industry Growth Rate

(Source: amazonaws.com)

• The growth of the cyberwarfare industry increased by 20% from 2021 to 2022 and by 40% from 2022 to 2023.
• Besides, the market growth remained at 40% (2023 to 2024) and 40% (2024 to 2025).

Top Regions Targeted By Russian State Cyber Actors

(Reference: statista.com)

• From July 2023 to June 2024, Russian state cyber actors were most frequently targeted in the Middle East & North Africa (52%) and North America (23%).
• Followed by Europe & Central Asia (12%), South Asia (6%), East Asia & Pacific (3%), Latin America & Caribbean (2%), and Sub-Saharan Africa (1%).

Most Targeted Countries by Other Nation-State Cyber Actors (From 2023 to 2024):

Public–Private Partnerships in Cyber Defense, 2025

AI and Automation in Cyber Warfare, 2025

Major Cyber Warfare Operations

• 2010: Stuxnet showed how malware could cause real damage by disrupting Iran’s nuclear centrifuges.
• 2013: Edward Snowden’s leaks revealed U.S. cyberespionage against countries such as Brazil and Germany.
• 2014: A North Korea-linked group attacked Sony Pictures and leaked sensitive files after “The Interview.”
• 2017: WannaCry used a Windows weakness and shut down systems in 150 countries.
• 2020: Power outages in Mumbai were attributed to a suspected Chinese “warning” cyberattack.
• From 2022 to present: The Russia-Ukraine conflict has included widespread wiper malware targeting Ukrainian organisations.

Recent Developments of Cyber Warfare Statistics

• Early in the year, a UN digital group endorsed the first embargo on the sale of attack tools.
• In the opening months, a Stuxnet-style successor struck industrial controllers linked to two nuclear efforts.
• Seoul announced a self-propelled interceptor, which has been proven in trials.
• African governments formed a continent-wide threat coalition to swap intelligence and align policy.
• The German federal police began using AI-based behaviour profiling for live-response operations.
• Turkey updated its doctrine, treating offensive online retaliation as an act of war, joining a small club.
• Deepfake-led propaganda disturbed local votes in three EU members.
• A Digital Geneva Convention had drawn support from many states by the summer.

Global Cyber-Warfare Economic Impact

• By 2025, SQ Magazine says state-backed cyberattacks could cause USD 13.1 billion in damage, about 1.4% of global GDP.
• Financial firms incurred USD 2.3 billion in losses following government-linked intrusions.
• In developing markets, cyber shutdowns increased 19% as tensions moved online.
• Political supplier disruption led to USD 890 million in lost sales.
• Cyberwar insurance premiums increased by 31% as insurers imposed stricter rules.
• Fixing one such strike averages USD 3.6 million.
• Export–import systems in six G20 nations are partially constrained, slowing customs processing and payments.
• The UN allocated more than USD 160 million to address peacekeeping disruptions.
• When satellites and logistics networks were attacked, aid reached people up to 6 days later.

Conclusion

Cyber warfare has extended conflict beyond the battlefield into the online world. Governments, criminals, and activist hackers can attack banks, power supply, hospitals, and public trust at low cost and hide their identities.

Since cyberattacks spread rapidly and it is difficult to identify attackers, countries must remain prepared at all times. Global rules and close teamwork with private companies can reduce damage and protect people. Hopefully, all the above analyses will guide you in understanding. The report is better.

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