Updated

Following a year that's seen the conflict in Ukraine and the rise of the Islamic State, geopolitical issues are considered to be the biggest threat to global stability over the coming decade, according to experts polled by the World Economic Forum.

In its 2015 Global Risks Report, published Thursday, the WEF found "interstate conflict with regional consequences" to be the top risk facing the world.

Margareta Drzeniek-Hanouz, WEF's lead economist, said "25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the world again faces the risk of major conflict between states." She said the means to wage such conflict is broader than ever, noting the rise in cyberattacks.

The report helps set the tone for discussions at the annual WEF gathering in the Swiss ski resort of Davos next week.