The report identified Pakistan and Yemen as of particular risk and said al-Qaeda had been able to create proxy groups, and managed to recruit citizens in the US and Europe, for attacks across the world.

Al-Qaeda "has proven to be an adaptable and resilient terrorist group whose desire to attack the United States and U.S. interests abroad remains strong," it said.

The group is the result of a merger between the Yemeni and Saudi branches of al-Qaeda.

It also noted that al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) had increased the number of kidnappings in Mauritania, Niger and Mali, where the group recently killed French tourist Michel Germaneau.

Militant group Al-Shabab in Somalia was also highlighted, being identified as "more of an ally than a full-blown affiliate" of al-Qaeda.

In 2009, a total of 14,971 people died in 10,999 different terrorist attacks around the world, the report says, down from a recent high in 2006, when 22,736 died in 14,443 attacks.

The figures represent a decrease of 6% in attacks and 5% in the number of deaths globally.

The report identified Iran, Cuba, Syria and Sudan as state sponsors of terrorism - unchanged from previous years.