Terrorism in Nigeria is the world's deadliest

Terrorism in Nigeria is the world's deadliest, recording the highest number of deaths per attack, with an average of 24. Terrorist related deaths have leaped by almost one third in the last 12 months as the world enters a deadly new phase in the cycle of violence.

The MTSD classifies 12 countries as "extreme risk", including Iraq at the top as most at risk, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Libya. It also includes the growth economies of Nigeria, the Philippines, Colombia and Kenya.

Iraq, rated as the highest risk country, recorded more than three times as many acts of terrorism as Pakistan with 3,158 attacks resulting in 5,929 deaths - an increase of 2,188 on the previous year.

And in Nigeria, the campaign of violence by Islamic militant group Boko Haram saw the country record the highest number of fatalities per attack, with Maplecroft's figures recording 146 reported attacks between July 1 last year and June 30 this year, resulting in 3,477 killed - an average of 24 people killed per attack, compared to two deaths per attack in Iraq.