Terrorism at highest ever levels globally, says study

MORE countries are dealing with historically high levels of terrorism than ever before, according to a study.

Analysts calculated deaths from terrorism globally jumped from just over 11,000 in 2007 to more than 29,000 in 2015, peaking at 32,765 in 2014.

The total number of incidents increased by 326 per cent over the same time period, from approximately 2,800 attacks in 2007 to just over 12,000 in 2015.

The most notable increases in the impact have been seen in highly economically developed countries, the latest edition of the Global Peace Index found.

It said deaths from terrorism in countries that are in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) rose by more than 900 per cent between 2007 and 2016.

The largest increases occurred in Turkey, France, the US and Belgium, according to the analysis.

The paper said the impact of terrorism is not evenly distributed around the world, with five countries – Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria and Yemen – recording more than 21,000 deaths between them in 2015.

The assessment concluded the world has become a more peaceful place in 2017, logging a 0.28 per cent improvement in the global score. Ninetythree countries scored higher levels of peace while 68 deteriorated.

The UK is ranked 41st out of 163 nations in the latest index, up six places compared to the previous year.

Iceland maintained its position as the world’s most peaceful country, a title it has held since 2008, while New Zealand and Portugal replaced Denmark and Austria in second and third.

Syria was ranked the least peaceful country, with Afghanistan, Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen completing the bottom five.