The total number of deaths caused by terrorism around the world fell for the second straight year, even as 2016 was recorded the third deadliest year since 2000, according to a global study.
Fatalities from terrorism fell 13 percent to 25,673 last year, 22 percent lower than the 2014 peak, according to the fifth annual Global Terrorism Index developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) think tank.
While the intensity of terrorism in many countries has decreased, it continues to spread to an increasing number of countries.
"There were 77 countries that experienced deaths from terrorism, which is an increase from 65 the year before. Two thirds of all countries experienced a terrorist attack in 2016," the IEP said in a statement on Wednesday.
More countries experienced at least one terrorism-related death in 2016 than in any other year since 2001, with 77 countries affected – 11 more than in 2015.
94 percent of all terrorism-related deaths happened in the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia.
The past year witnessed OECD countries experiencing the most deaths from terrorism since the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Three of the four deadliest terrorist groups – Boko Haram, the Taliban and al Qa'ida – all caused fewer fatalities in 2016. However, ISIL was an exception to this trend and was responsible for killing 9,132 people last year, IEP said.
