Armed conflict, 1989-99

A total of 110 armed conflicts have been recorded for the years 1989-99. Of these, 37 were active in 1999. This is the same number as in 1998 bur an increase from 1997, after an overall decline in the number of conflicts per year since 1992. Seven interstate armed conflicts were recorded for the whole period, of which two were still active in 1999. Contrary to a common assumption that conflicts normally escalate gradually from minor armed conflicts, no such clear pattern is found. Peace agreement is the least common type of conflict termination in 1989-99.