Deaths by Terrorism Jumped 61 Percent in 2013

A study released by Sydney think tank Institute for Economics and Peace found deaths from terrorism jumped 61 percent from 2012 to 2013.

The number of attacks around the globe in 2013 was nearly 10,000, a 44 percent jump from the previous year.

The 2013 death toll was nearly 18,000. Eighty-two percent of those deaths occurred in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan and Nigeria.

Iraq ranked as the least peaceful country suffering the greatest impact from terrorism, followed by Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria.

India came in next. In September, al-Qaeda announced official expansion into South Asia with a new chapter.

After India on the list were Somalia, Yemen, the Philippines, Thailand, Russia, Kenya, Egypt, Lebanon and Libya.

The report found terrorism dominated by the Taliban, Boko Haram, ISIS and al-Qaeda. These groups accounted for two-thirds of terrorism deaths.

It also noted that since 2000 only 5 percent of terrorist attacks have been suicide attacks.

The report defines terrorism as  “the threatened or actual use of illegal force and violence by a non-state actor to attain a political, economic, religious or social goal through fear, coercion, or intimidation.”

“Religion as a driving ideology for terrorism has dramatically increased since 2000. Prior to 2000 nationalist separatist agendas were the biggest drivers of terrorist organizations,” the report states.

Countries singled out as being at increased risk of terrorism through this year and beyond include Israel, Mexico, Bangladesh and Ethiopia.

For 2013, the report ranked the United States as being slightly more impacted by terrorism than Israel on its index.

Countries ranked as “not impacted by terrorism” include Mongolia, New Zealand, Poland, Costa Rica, Togo and Qatar, which has recently come under fire for financing terrorists and harboring al-Qaeda money men.