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What country has the most pirates?

Indonesia's 17,500 islands and their surrounding waters now take the title as the world's most heavily pirated.



While "piracy" is often associated with Somalia, as of early 2026, the Singapore Strait remains the world's most active hotspot for pirate attacks and armed robbery at sea. According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), incidents in the Singapore Strait accounted for over 58% of all globally reported piracy in 2025, with more than 80 reported boardings. These attacks are typically "low-level" opportunistic robberies by gangs looking for engine parts or scrap metal, rather than high-stakes ship hijackings. However, the Gulf of Guinea (off the coast of Nigeria) remains the most dangerous area for crew violence and kidnappings, while Somali piracy has seen a small resurgence in 2024–2025 as international naval patrols were occasionally diverted due to conflicts in the Red Sea. In terms of sheer volume of incidents, the waters shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore take the top spot, forcing ships in these trade-critical channels to maintain 24-hour lookouts and heightened security protocols.

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