Is the world less violent today than in the past?

Yes. While conflicts still exist, data from the Human Security Report and historian Steven Pinker show a long-term decline in violence. In earlier centuries, wars like the Thirty Years’ War or World War II killed millions at rates far higher than today’s conflicts. Modern peace treaties, international institutions, and stronger global norms against aggression have reduced large-scale wars. Media coverage often amplifies violent events, but media literacy helps contextualize them historically. Evidence shows that humanity is safer from war than at almost any point in history, even as new security threats emerge.