India tops global tally of protests for fifth consecutive year, ACLED shows
India accounted for the largest share of worldwide demonstrations in 2026, marking its fifth year in a row at the top, according to ACLED data.
ACLED recorded 18,074 demonstrations in India through September 2026, representing 17.5% of all protests globally. This share kept India in the leading position for five straight years. Official Indian statistics on protests have not been published since 2016, so the nonprofit’s figures fill a data gap. The trend highlights the country's high level of public mobilization.
Why it matters
It shows the scale of public dissent in the world’s largest democracy and the need for reliable protest data.
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