The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank dedicated to shifting the world’s focus to peace as a positive, achievable and tangible measure of human well-being and progress.
The IEP works to define peacefulness, providing metrics for measuring peace and uncovering the relationships between business, peace and prosperity as well as promoting a better understanding of the cultural, economic and political factors that create peace.
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Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world. It has held this position since 2008. Also joining Iceland on the top of the index is New Zealand, Austria, Portugal and Denmark. Syria held the least peaceful country in the world position from 2013 to 2018, replaced this year by Afghanistan.
Trends in Peace
The average level of global peacefulness has deteriorated by 0.09% 2018 to 2019. Over that period, 76 countries deteriorated (compared to 85 in 2018), while 86 improved (compared to 75 in 2018).
The average level of country peacefulness has deteriorated for the past 11 years.
The Middle East and North Africa region has remained the world’s least peaceful area. This region is home to 4 of the 10 least peaceful countries in the world.
Global State of Peace
- Iceland
- New Zealand
- Portugal
- Austria
- Denmark
- Canada
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Japan
- Czech Republic
- Switzerland
- Ireland
- Australia
The 10 least peaceful countries may hold no surprises, starting with the least peaceful:
163. Afghanistan
162. Syria
161. South Sudan
160. Yemen
159. Iraq
158. Somalia
157. Central African Republic
156. Libya
155. Demonican Republic of the Congo
154. Russia
153. Pakistan
