2014 Global Terrorism Index:

Number of lives lost to terrorism increased 61% YOY

Number of countries experiencing 50 or more deaths increased 60% YOY

There were almost 10,000 terrorist attacks recorded in 2013 representing a 44%
increase on 2012, resulting in nearly 18,000 deaths representing a 61% increase
from the previous year.
24 countries experienced more than 50 deaths in 2013, increasing 60% from 15
in 2012.
Terrorism in 2013 was dominated by four organizations; ISIL, Boko Haram, al
Qaida and the Taliban, collectively responsible for 66% of all fatalities.
Over 80% of the deaths from terrorist incidents in 2013 were recorded in just five
countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria.
Iraq continues to be the country most impacted by terrorism. The number of
fatalities in the country rose 164% to 6,362 the largest increase in the index.
At least 13 countries have been identified as facing a greater risk of significant
terrorist activity in the coming years.
In 2013 the eight OECD countries that recorded deaths from terrorism were
Turkey, Mexico, the United States, the United Kingdom, Greece, Israel, Czech
Republic and Chile.

LONDON, 18 November 2014 The number of lives lost to terrorist attacks increased by
61% in a single year, according to the second edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI),
rising from 11,133 in 2012 to 17,958 in 2013. The index also recorded a 44% increase in the
number of terrorist incidents, rising from 6,825 in 2012 to 9,814 in 2013. Explosives accounted
for the majority of these attacks, while suicide bombings accounted for less than 5%.
First launched by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) in 2012, the GTI ranks countries
by the impact of terrorist activities as well as analysing the economic and social dimensions
associated with terrorism. The index scores 162 countries, covering 99.6% of the worlds
population, and examines trends from 2000 to 2013. The indicators used include the number
of terrorist incidents, fatalities, injuries and property damage.
Over 80% of the deaths from terrorist attacks in 2013 were in just five countries: Iraq,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria. Iraq continues to be the country most impacted by
terrorism with 2,492 attacks killing 6,362 people, which represents a 164% increase from
2012. ISIL was responsible for most of the deaths in the country.
Terrorism has also grown significantly in intensity and breadth outside of these five countries.
In 2013 there were 3,721 attacks recorded in the rest of the world killing 3,236 people, an
increase of over 50% YOY. A total of 60 countries recorded deaths from terrorist attacks in
2013.
Steve Killelea, Executive Chairman of IEP, said, Terrorism doesnt arise on its own; by
identifying the factors associated with it, policies can be implemented to improve the
underlying environment that nurtures terrorism. The most significant actions that can be taken
are to reduce state-sponsored violence such as extra-judicial killings, reduce group grievances
and hostilities, and improve effective and community-supported policing.
There are three statistically significant factors associated with terrorism: state sponsored
violence, group grievances and high levels of criminality. Interestingly, poverty rates, levels of

school attendance and most economic factors have no association with terrorism. The strong
relationship between terrorism and other forms of violence underlines how the persistent
targeting of police forces and the instability generated by terrorist activity can undermine the
rule of law.
Steve Killelea commented, Since we first launched the GTI in 2012, weve seen a significant
and worrying increase in worldwide incidences of terrorism. Over the last decade the increase
in terrorism has been linked to radical Islamic groups whose violent theologies have been
broadly taught. To counter-act these influences, moderate forms of Sunnis theologies need to
be championed by Sunni Muslim nations. Given the theological nature of the problem it is
difficult for outside actors to be influential.
The report also sources both high and low estimates of foreign fighters who are actively
fighting in Syria, utilizing the best available data. The low estimations for number of fighters
from Europe are 396, with the high estimates at 1,846, while the low estimate for the MENA is
1,930 and the high estimate is 6,664.
The two most successful strategies for ending terrorist groups since the late 1960s have been
either policing or the initiation of a political process; 80% of organisations that ceased
operations ended this way. Only 10% of terrorist organisations ended due to having achieved
their goals while 7% were eliminated by full military engagement.
The GTI also provides guidance for assessing the risk of the potential of future attacks in
countries where there are currently low levels of activity. Based on measuring various political,
violence and group relationship indicators, countries at risk of substantial increases in
terrorism have been identified. At least 13 countries are facing a greater risk of substantial
terrorist activity: Angola, Bangladesh, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cote dIvoire,
Ethiopia, Iran, Israel, Mali, Mexico, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Uganda.
Since 2000, around 7% of all terrorist incidents and 5% of all fatalities have occurred in OECD
countries resulting in 4,861 deaths from 3,151 attacks. OECD-based terrorism in 2013 was
slightly down from 130 deaths and 333 incidents in 2012 to 113 deaths and 311 incidents in
2013.
Many more people die in homicides than in terrorist attacks, with an individual being 40 times
more likely to be a victim of homicide than be killed by terrorism. In the UK an individual is 188
times more likely to be victim of a homicide, and in US 64 times more likely.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
The full GTI report and interactive map available at: www.visionofhumanity.org
Follow: @GlobPeaceIndex #TerrorismIndex
Like: www.facebook.com/globalpeaceindex
Contacts:
Global Terrorism Index press office at H+K Strategies GTI2014@hkstrategies.com
Isabel Davies
Isabel.davies@hkstrategies.com
+44 20 7413 3027
Danielle Mathews
Danielle.mathews@hkstrategies.com
+44 207413 3432
For comment from Khalid Mahmood MP: Elaina Cohen, cohene@parliament.uk, +44 20
72198141