Global Peace Index

The Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2025 has just been released, showing some important trends in global peacefulness.

What is the Global Peace Index (GPI)?

The Global Peace Index is an annual ranking of countries and territories based on their level of peacefulness. It is produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), and the 2025 edition is the 19th edition of the GPI. It ranks 163 independent states and territories, covering 99.7% of the world's population.

The GPI uses 23 indicators across three major domains:

1. Societal Safety and Security: This includes factors like crime rates, political instability, and the presence of internal conflicts.

2. Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict: Measures the number of active conflicts, fatalities, and the role of the country in international disputes.

3. Degree of Militarisation: The extent to which a country has a heavily militarized society, such as high military spending or large standing armies.

Key Findings from the GPI 2025

• Global Peacefulness Declines: The GPI report highlights that global peacefulness continues to decline, with a 0.36% decrease in overall peace compared to the previous year. This marks a broader trend where the level of global conflict and militarisation is increasing.

• Rising Conflicts:

  • There are currently 59 active state-based conflicts in the world, which is the highest number since World War II.

  • 17 countries recorded over 1,000 conflict deaths in the last year.

  • The resolution of conflicts has decreased. Conflicts ending in a decisive victory or through peace agreements have significantly reduced since the 1970s.

• More Militarisation: More countries are becoming increasingly militarised, suggesting an increase in the willingness to use military force as a primary means of resolving disputes.

• Regional Trends:

  • South America was the only region that saw an improvement in peacefulness last year.

  • Western and Central Europe, though still the most peaceful region, has seen a decline in peacefulness over the past four years.

  • Middle East and North Africa (MENA) remain the least peaceful region, with ongoing conflicts and instability.

  • South Asia experienced the largest regional decline in peacefulness, contributing to its position as the second least peaceful region globally.

Top and Bottom Ranked Countries

• Iceland has retained its position as the most peaceful country for the 16th consecutive year, a position it has held since 2008.

• The Top Five:

  • Iceland (1st)

  • Ireland (2nd)

  • Austria (3rd)

  • New Zealand (4th)

  • Switzerland (5th)

• The Least Peaceful:

  • Russia is ranked as the least peaceful country for the first time, which reflects the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its impact on the region.

  • Ukraine (2nd least peaceful)

  • Sudan (3rd)

  • Democratic Republic of the Congo (4th)

  • Yemen (5th)

India's Position

• India has been ranked 115th in the GPI 2025, up one position from the previous year. While this is a slight improvement, it still indicates significant challenges in terms of domestic and international conflict, safety, and security.

• Peaceful Asian Countries:

  • Singapore (6th)

  • Japan (12th)

  • Malaysia (13th)

  • Bhutan (21st)

  • Mongolia (37th)

Global Trends

• Declining Global Peace: The overall trend of declining global peace is concerning, as rising militarisation, conflicts, and decreased conflict resolution through diplomatic means are alarming signs for the future of global stability.

• Regional Challenges: The Middle East and South Asia are experiencing particularly high levels of instability, with ongoing wars and conflicts. Meanwhile, South America has seen a relative improvement, possibly due to fewer internal conflicts or successful peace efforts.

Conclusion

The Global Peace Index 2025 paints a sobering picture of the state of peace across the globe, with more countries becoming militarised and more conflicts intensifying. Iceland, along with other peaceful nations like Ireland and Austria, continue to serve as models of stability. On the other hand, countries like Russia and Ukraine highlight the devastating effects of ongoing conflicts on global peacefulness. India’s ranking at 115th indicates that while there are improvements, challenges in security and conflict management remain.