Global Peace Index

The world’s leading measure of national peacefulness, the GPI measures peace according to 22 qualitative and quantitative indicators.

The Global Peace Index measures peace in 162 countries according to 22 indicators that gauge the absence of violence or the fear of violence. This is the 8th year the index has been produced.

Highlights

Since 2008, 111 countries have deteriorated in levels of peace, while only 51 have increased.

Europe retains its position as the most peaceful region with 14 of the top 20 most peaceful countries.

The world has become less peaceful over the last year, mainly due to a rise in terrorist activity, the number of conflicts fought and the number of refugees and displaced people.

500 million people live in countries at risk of instability and conflict, 200 million of whom live below the poverty line.

The Global Economic Impact of violence reached US$9.8 trillion last year, which is equal to 2 times the total GDP of Africa.

Results

The most peaceful countries are Iceland, Denmark and New Zealand.

Georgia, Cote d’Ivoire and Libya all made the biggest improvements in peace since last year. A common characteristic in all these countries is the ongoing improvement in political stability in the wake of conflict.

Syria replaces Afghanistan as the world’s least peaceful country. South Sudan experienced the largest fall on the Global Peace Index and dropping 16 places to rank 160th of 162 countries.

Check out the complete Global Peace Index http://www.visionofhumanity.org/#/page/indexes/global-peace-index