Cyber warfare - Statistics & Facts

In times when physical harm to another country’s government entities or critical infrastructure might be caused remotely, wars are no longer happening only on the battlefield. Nowadays, some governments use cyberattacks as part of their large-scale military actions against other states.

The term cyber warfare is ambiguous and some experts do not find it to be a precise definition of the notion. The conflict is mainly about the scope of the cyber events that can be considered part of an actual war and the parties involved. For now, cyber warfare mainly refers to cyber incidents that happen in a political context and have an intent coherent with the state's policy toward the targeted country. Since 2014, the highest number of cyber incidents with a political dimension was registered in 2023, with 597 incidents overall. Meanwhile, non-politicized cyberattacks on political targets were the most common ones.

Most targeted industries by nation-state threat actors

Between 2022 and 2023, state-affiliated threat actors mostly targeted the global education sector. This is a new dynamic, as between 2020 and 2021, governments were the most targeted. Think tanks and NGOs are Europe's most frequently targeted sectors by foreign nation-state threat actors. Cyberattacks against governments often cause data breaches or unauthorized access.

Russia: the ongoing hybrid war

Between 2022 and 2023, almost half of cyberattacks launched by Russia’s state-affiliated threat actors were directed toward Ukraine. NATO member states ranked as a second target, with 36 percent of the attacks. The most targeted industries by Russian nation-state threat actors were government entities of other countries. In Ukraine, Russia also mostly targeted the government.

Iran’s involvement in cyberwar

State-sponsored hackers from Iran were most likely to target various institutions in the United States, followed by Israel. Overall, seven attacks originated from Iran in 2023 and were conducted by a state-affiliated group, while five attacks targeted critical infrastructure in foreign countries. Furthermore, six cyberattacks that Iranian state-linked threat actors launched involved data misuse.

“China’s side of the story”

The cyberattacks that China’s state-affiliated threat actors launch have multiple intents. One of which is propaganda. The United States is the main target of China’s state-affiliated cyber groups, followed by the United Kingdom (UK). Almost a third of the state-linked cyber incidents that originated from China targeted foreign NGOs. In 2023, China’s state-linked threat actors initiated seven non-politicized cyberattacks on political targets.

North Korea: the most active initiator of state-sponsored attacks

The case of North Korea is unique. The country launches cyberattacks often for financial gain. Moreover, North Korean state-linked threat actors target Russia, one of its rare allies. This might be due to the intention to gather intelligence on various institutions in Russia. The industries most frequently targeted by the North Korean state-affiliated hackers were think tanks, NGOs, and education.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Number of political cyberattacks worldwide in 2023 YTD: 597

Country launching highest number of political cyberattacks: China

Most targeted industry by nation-state cyber threat actors: Education

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Countries initiating the highest share of cyber incidents with political dimension from 2000 to 2023

Cyber Crime

Countries with biggest highest share of political cyberattacks 2000-2023

Timeline of cyber events involved in Russia's war in Ukraine from February to November 2022

Cyber Crime

Cyber events involved in Russia's war in Ukraine 2022

Total annual amount of cryptocurrency stolen by North Korea-linked threat actors from 2016 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)

Cyber Crime

Total amount of cryptocurrency stolen by North Korea-linked hackers 2016-2022

Recommended statistics

Overview

Basic Statistic Countries with biggest highest share of political cyberattacks 2000-2023
Countries with biggest highest share of political cyberattacks 2000-2023
Countries initiating the highest share of cyber incidents with political dimension from 2000 to 2023
Basic Statistic Countries launching highest number of political cyberattacks 2000-2023
Countries launching highest number of political cyberattacks 2000-2023
Countries with the highest number of initiated cyber incidents with political dimension from 2000 to 2023
Basic Statistic Number of political cyberattacks worldwide 2020-2023, by attack type
Number of political cyberattacks worldwide 2020-2023, by attack type
Number of cyber incidents with a political dimension worldwide from January 2020 to December 2023, by attack type
Basic Statistic Annual number of political cyberattacks worldwide 2014-2023 YTD
Annual number of political cyberattacks worldwide 2014-2023 YTD
Annual number of cyber incidents with a political dimension worldwide from 2014 to 2023 YTD
Basic Statistic Number of cyber incidents targeting governments worldwide 2022
Number of cyber incidents targeting governments worldwide 2022
Monthly number of cyber incidents targeting government agencies worldwide in 2022
Basic Statistic Share of cyber incidents targeting governments worldwide 2022, by attack vector
Share of cyber incidents targeting governments worldwide 2022, by attack vector
Share of cyber incidents targeting government agencies worldwide in 2022, by attack vector
Basic Statistic Number of cyberattacks targeting governments worldwide 2022-2023
Number of cyberattacks targeting governments worldwide 2022-2023
Number of cyber incidents targeting government agencies worldwide from December 2022 to August 2023
Basic Statistic Most targeted industries by nation-state cyber threat actors 2020-2023
Most targeted industries by nation-state cyber threat actors 2020-2023
Industry sectors most targeted by nation-state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from 2020 to 2023
Basic Statistic Most targeted European industries by nation-state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
Most targeted European industries by nation-state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
European industries most targeted by nation-state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from July 2022 to June 2023
Basic Statistic Most targeted European countries by nation-state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
Most targeted European countries by nation-state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
European countries most targeted by nation-state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from July 2022 to June 2023

Russia

Basic Statistic Most targeted regions by Russian state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
Most targeted regions by Russian state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
Regions most targeted by Russian state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from July 2022 to June 2023
Basic Statistic Most targeted industries by Russian state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
Most targeted industries by Russian state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
Industry sectors most targeted by Russian state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from July 2022 to June 2023
Premium Statistic Ukrainian industries most targeted by Russian cyber attacks 2022
Ukrainian industries most targeted by Russian cyber attacks 2022
Distribution of cyber attacks by Russian state and state-affiliated threat groups on Ukraine since the invasion from late February to June 2022, by targeted industry
Basic Statistic Cyber events involved in Russia's war in Ukraine 2022
Cyber events involved in Russia's war in Ukraine 2022
Timeline of cyber events involved in Russia's war in Ukraine from February to November 2022

Iran

Basic Statistic Most targeted countries by Iranian nation-state cyber actors 2021-2022
Most targeted countries by Iranian nation-state cyber actors 2021-2022
Countries most targeted by Iranian nation-state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from July 2021 to June 2022
Basic Statistic Most targeted industries by Iranian nation-state cyber actors 2021-2022, by type
Most targeted industries by Iranian nation-state cyber actors 2021-2022, by type
Industry sectors most targeted by Iranian nation-state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from July 2021 to June 2022, by type
Basic Statistic Number of political cyberattacks launched by Iran 2023, by attack characteristic
Number of political cyberattacks launched by Iran 2023, by attack characteristic
Number of cyber incidents with a political dimension initiated by Iran in 2023, by attack characteristic
Basic Statistic Types of political cyberattacks launched by Iran 2023
Types of political cyberattacks launched by Iran 2023
Main types of cyber incidents with a political dimension launched by Iran in 2023
Basic Statistic Number of political cyberattacks targeting Iran 2023, by type
Number of political cyberattacks targeting Iran 2023, by type
Number of cyber incidents with a political dimension targeting Iran in 2023, by type

China

Basic Statistic Most targeted industries by Chinese nation-state cyber threat actors 2021-2022
Most targeted industries by Chinese nation-state cyber threat actors 2021-2022
Industry sectors most targeted by Chinese nation-state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from July 2021 to June 2022
Basic Statistic Most targeted regions by Chinese nation-state cyber threat actors 2021-2022
Most targeted regions by Chinese nation-state cyber threat actors 2021-2022
Countries and regions most targeted by Chinese nation-state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from July 2021 to June 2022
Basic Statistic Number of political cyberattacks launched by China 2023, by attack characteristic
Number of political cyberattacks launched by China 2023, by attack characteristic
Number of cyber incidents with a political dimension initiated by China in 2023, by attack characteristic
Basic Statistic Number of political cyberattacks targeting China 2023, by attack type
Number of political cyberattacks targeting China 2023, by attack type
Number of cyber incidents with a political dimension targeting China in 2023, by attack type
Basic Statistic Types of political cyberattacks launched by China 2023
Types of political cyberattacks launched by China 2023
Main types of cyber incidents with a political dimension launched by China in 2023

North Korea

Basic Statistic Total amount of cryptocurrency stolen by North Korea-linked hackers 2016-2022
Total amount of cryptocurrency stolen by North Korea-linked hackers 2016-2022
Total annual amount of cryptocurrency stolen by North Korea-linked threat actors from 2016 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic National defense sectors most targeted by North Korea state threat actors 2022-2023
National defense sectors most targeted by North Korea state threat actors 2022-2023
National defense sectors most targeted by North Korean nation-state cyber threat actors from July 2022 to June 2023
Basic Statistic Most targeted industries by North Korean nation-state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
Most targeted industries by North Korean nation-state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
Industries most targeted by North Korean nation-state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from July 2022 to June 2023
Basic Statistic Number of political cyberattacks launched by North Korea 2023, by characteristic
Number of political cyberattacks launched by North Korea 2023, by characteristic
Number of cyber incidents with a political dimension initiated by North Korea in 2023, by attack characteristic
Basic Statistic Types of political cyberattacks launched by North Korea 2023
Types of political cyberattacks launched by North Korea 2023
Main types of cyber incidents with a political dimension initiated by North Korea in 2023

United States

Basic Statistic Number of political cyberattacks launched against U.S. 2023, by attack characteristic
Number of political cyberattacks launched against U.S. 2023, by attack characteristic
Number of cyber incidents with a political dimension initiated against the United States in 2023, by attack characteristic
Basic Statistic U.S. industries most targeted by Chinese nation-state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
U.S. industries most targeted by Chinese nation-state cyber threat actors 2022-2023
Industries in the United States most targeted by Chinese nation-state or state-affiliated cyber threat actors from July 2022 to June 2023
Basic Statistic Annual number of cyber incidents targeting U.S. federal agencies 2006-2022
Annual number of cyber incidents targeting U.S. federal agencies 2006-2022
Number of cyber security incident reports by federal agencies in the United States from FY 2006 to 2022
Premium Statistic U.S. government agencies: number of cybersecurity incidents 2022, by attack vector
U.S. government agencies: number of cybersecurity incidents 2022, by attack vector
Number of reported cyberattacks against the U.S. government in FY 2022, by attack vector and government agencies

U.S. government cybersecurity spending

Basic Statistic U.S. government: estimated cybersecurity spending in FY 2017-2024
U.S. government: estimated cybersecurity spending in FY 2017-2024
Estimated budget of the U.S. government for cybersecurity in FY 2017 to 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic U.S. federal government proposed cyber security spending FY 2022-2024
U.S. federal government proposed cyber security spending FY 2022-2024
Proposed spending by the U.S. federal government on cybersecurity for selected government agencies from FY 2022 to FY 2024 (in million U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic U.S. cybersecurity spending on CFO Act and non-CFO Act agencies FY 2018- FY2024
U.S. cybersecurity spending on CFO Act and non-CFO Act agencies FY 2018- FY2024
Estimated cybersecurity spending of the U.S. government on CFO Act and non-CFO Act agencies from FY 2018 to FY 2024 (in million U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic U.S. government cyber security spending on selected departments FY 2023
U.S. government cyber security spending on selected departments FY 2023
Cyber security spending of the U.S. government on selected government departments in FY 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

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