SNAPSHOT

2018
GLOBAL PEACE 2018 key highlights
INDEX SNAPSHOT gg 92 countries deteriorated whilst 71 countries improved
between 2016 and 2017

MEASURING PEACE IN
A COMPLEX WORLD
The Global Peace Index 2018 report finds that the
global level of peace has deteriorated by 0.27%
over the last year. This is the fourth successive
year of deterioration, finding that 92 countries
have deteriorated, while 71 countries have
improved. The report reveals a world in which
gg Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iraq and Somalia are the
least peaceful countries in the world
gg Iceland, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal and Denmark are the
most peaceful countries in the world
gg Countries that improved in peace over the last decade had
seven times higher GDP growth rates
gg Military expenditure compared to country GDP has been
steadily falling in more countries than increasing
gg Battle deaths have risen steadily over the last 10 years,
increasing by 264%

tensions, conflicts and crises that have emerged gg Both Europe and North America become less peaceful, with
23/36 countries in Europe deteriorating last year
over the past decade remain unresolved, causing
gg Sub-Saharan Africa was home to four of the five largest
a gradual, sustained decline in global levels of improvements in peacefulness
peacefulness. ​
FOR MORE OF SECTION 1:
RESULTS, SEE THE 2018
REPORT

Five most & least Global economic

peaceful countries
In the 2018 GPI, 92 countries deteriorated while 71 countries
improved, with the global average deteriorating by 0.27 per
cent. This is the highest number of countries to deteriorate in
peacefulness in a single year since the 2010 GPI.
impact of violence
The global economic impact of violence, higher in 2017 than
at any point in the last decade, was $14.76 trillion PPP in 2017,
equivalent to 12.4 per cent of global GDP, or $1,988 per person.
2017

MOST PEACEFUL SCORE CHANGE 14.76 trillion PPP

1 Iceland 1.096 
2 New Zealand 1.192  12%
3 Austria 1.274 1

4
5
Portugal
Denmark
1.318
1.353
1


GLOBAL
GDP OR $1,988
PER PERSON
LEAST PEACEFUL
159 Somalia 3.367  2017
160 Iraq 3.425 1 Rise corresponding with the
start of the Syrian war and rising
161 South Sudan 3.508 1 violence in the aftermath of the
Arab Uprising in the MENA.

16%
162 Afghanistan 3.585 
163 Syria 3.6 
SINCE 2012
FOR MORE OF SECTION 1: FOR MORE OF SECTION 3:
RESULTS, SEE THE 2018 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF VIOLENCE,
REPORT SEE THE 2018 REPORT

THE GAMBIA
-0.228*

2018 improvements
LIBERIA
IRAQ BURUNDI
-0.129 SENEGAL

& deteriorations -0.094 -0.087 -0.078

CHANGE IN GPI SCORE 2017–2018

0.127 0.119
0.154
SPAIN MYANMAR
0.206 0.192 TOGO
DRC
QATAR
Five largest improvements & deteriorations

DOWNLOAD THE FULL 2018 GPI REPORT, INCLUDING DETAILED CHAR

 Trends
GPIYEAR
TEN trend
GPI by overall
TREND score,
BY OVERALL 2008-2018
SCORE, 2008–2018 FIVE LARGEST IMPROVEMENTS & DETERIORATIONS BY INDICATOR
1 YEAR
2.11
-0.025 Violent Crime
2.10 -0.019 Military Expenditure (% GDP)
Less peaceful

-0.014 Terrorism Impact

2.09 -0.009 Violent Demonstrations
-0.006 Weapons Exports
2.08
Ongoing Conflict 0.010
Intensity of Internal Conflict 0.025
2.07
Political Terror Scale 0.046
Peacefulness has declined
More peaceful

2.06 year on year for eight of the External Conflicts Fought 0.049
last ten years. UN Peacekeeping Funding 0.081
2.05
10 YEARS
2.04 -0.358 UN Peacekeeping Funding
-0.108 Homicide Rate
2.03 -0.078 Armed Services Personnel Rate
2008 2013 2018 -0.038 Militarisation*
-0.034 Political Terror Scale
Source: IEP
External Conflicts Fought 0.188

12.7%
The 25 least peaceful countries
declined by 12.7 per cent on
average over the last decade.
Source: IEP.
0.9%
The 25 most peaceful countries
improved by an average 0.9 per
cent over the last decade.
Intensity of Internal Conflict 0.202
Violent Demonstrations 0.216
Perceptions of Criminality 0.319
Terrorism Impact 0.393
*Domain FOR MORE SECTION 2:
TRENDS, SEE THE 2018
REPORT

Positive Peace The Pillars of Positive Peace

The average global level of Positive Peace increased steadily Positive Peace is defined as the attitudes, structures and
between 2005 and 2013. However, this trend levelled out in the institutions that underpin and sustain peaceful societies.
two years to 2015, after which Positive Peace deteriorated in 2016.
Global average Positive Peace score, 2005-2016
GLOBAL AVERAGE POSITIVE PEACE SCORE, 2005-2016 Well-
POSITIVE PEACE INDEX SCORE Functioning
3.07 Government
Sound Equitable
Business Distribution
Weaker

3.05 Environment of Resources

Positive Peace has improved.

3.03

3.01
PEACE
Low
Levels of Free Flow of
Corruption Information
2.99
Stronger

2.97

Acceptance Good
2.95 of the Rights Relations with
2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 of Others Neighbours

Source: IEP High Levels

of Human
Capital
FOR MORE OF SECTION 4:
POSITIVE PEACE, SEE THE
2018 REPORT

71
In the 2018 GPI, 92 countries deteriorated while 71 countries improved, with the global average deteriorating by 0.27 per
cent. This is the highest number of countries to deteriorate in peacefulness in a single year since the 2010 GPI.

COUNTRIES

92
COUNTRIES
FOR MORE OF SECTION 1:
RESULTS, SEE THE 2018
REPORT

RTS, METHODOLOGY AND COUNTRY PROFILES AT VISIONOFHUMANITY.ORG

2018
GLOBAL
PEACE
INDEX
A SNAPSHOT OF THE
GLOBAL STATE OF PEACE
THE STATE OF PEACE
VERY HIGH HIGH MEDIUM LOW VERY LOW NOT INCLUDED
The GTI is developed by the Institute for Economics & Peace, an
The Global Peace Index, produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), ranks 163
independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank dedicated to shifting the
countries (99.7% of the world’s population) according to 23 qualitative and quantitative world’s focus to peace as a positive, achievable and tangible measure of
indicators of peace. human wellbeing and progress.
See the full list of rankings and explore the data on the interactive map at IEP is headquartered in Sydney, with offices in New York, The Hague,
Mexico City and Brussels. It works with a wide range of partners
visionofhumanity.org. Click on a country to see the levels of peacefulness, compare two or internationally and collaborates with intergovernmental organisations on
more countries and use the timeline to see the changes in levels of peacefulness since 2008. measuring and communicating the economic value of peace.
@GlobPeaceIndex
GlobalPeaceIndex
@IndicedePaz