IMO Annual Piracy Report: 171 incidents incidents during 2025

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published its Annual Piracy Report for 2025, revealing a 17% increase in global piracy and armed robbery incidents against ships, driven largely by a sharp rise in attacks in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

Global overview

According to information received and made available in IMO’s GISIS module on piracy and armed robbery, 171 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the Organization as having occurred or been attempted in 2025. In 2024, 146 incidents were reported, whereas the number was 150 incidents in 2023. This, therefore, constitutes an increase of about 17% at the global level compared to last year.

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Regional distribution of incidents

The areas affected by acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2025 were:

the Straits of Malacca and Singapore area (122 incidents),
West Africa (21 incidents),
Indian Ocean (10 incidents),
South China Sea (6 incidents),
East Africa (5 incidents),
South America (Caribbean) (4 incidents),
Arabian Sea (2 incidents),
and South America (Pacific) (1 incident).

Straits of Malacca and Singapore area

In particular, the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore area increased to 122 from 91 incidents reported in 2024. This represents an increase of 34%. About 89% of the incidents reported in 2025 were targeting a steaming ship in this area, compared to approximately 74% of incidents worldwide in 2025.

Indian Ocean

Meanwhile, the number of incidents in the Indian Ocean decreased to 10 from 19 incidents reported in 2024. All incidents occurred in port areas.

Gulf of Guinea (West Africa)

Similarly, the number of incidents that took place in the Gulf of Guinea (West Africa) increased in 2025 by 4 compared to 2024, when 17 incidents were reported. This constitutes an increase of about 24%. The number of incidents involving hostage/kidnapped crew is four, one less than in 2024, with a total of 27 crew members reported as hostage/kidnapped. Approximately 38% of incidents occurred in international waters, and 62% occurred in port areas.

South China Sea

By contrast, the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships reported in the South China Sea decreased by 4 from 10 incidents reported to the Organization in 2024. This represents a decrease of 40%.

Arabian Sea

Likewise, the number of incidents in the Arabian Sea decreased from seven (2024) to two incidents reported in 2025. This constitutes a decrease of about 71%. In one incident, the ship was attacked while steaming in territorial waters; in the other incident, a ship was attacked while at anchor in a port area.

South American regions and the Caribbean

In addition, the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the South American regions and the Caribbean region has increased overall by three from two incidents reported in 2024. This constitutes an increase of 150%. This total includes incidents in the Caribbean region, which increased to four from one incident reported in 2024, whereas in the South America Pacific region, one incident was reported (no incidents were reported for this region in 2024). No incidents were reported for the South America Atlantic region, while one incident was reported in 2024.

Crew taken hostage or kidnapped

Moreover, the data reveals that the total number of crew reported as taken hostage/kidnapped in 2025 remains at 69 crew members, and this is a decrease from 132 crew members held hostage/kidnapped in 2024. The number of crew taken hostage/kidnapped in West Africa decreased to 27 from 42 crew members reported in 2024. However, in the Caribbean region, two crew members were reportedly taken hostage/kidnapped in one incident in 2025, while no such incidents were reported in 2025.

Cumulative incidents since 1984

Finally, the total number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships reported to the Organization as having occurred or having been attempted from 1984 to the end of December 2025 has risen to 9,185.