“The average level of global peacefulness deteriorated by 0.07 per cent in the 2021 Global Peace Index. Although a relatively small deterioration, this is the ninth time in the last 13 years that global peacefulness has deteriorated.”
In this article, we will summarize the data reported in the 15th edition of the Global Peace Index report (GPI) drafted by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). The aim of the GPI is to highlight the improvements and the deteriorations in peacefulness, ranking 163 independent states and territories. They used 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from reliable sources, and the state of peace was measured across three domains: the level of Societal Safety and Security, the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and the degree of Militarisation.
The below table shows the 23 indicators referring to the three domains, those indicators are selected with the assistance of experts of the field and are reviewed on annual basis.
The report is divided into 5 sections plus the appendices, including: results, trends, the economic impact of violence, peace and perception of risk and positive peace.
We will focus on the Nations that ranked higher and lower in the GPI, considering all the factors mentioned above.
The ten nations that ranked higher in the 2021 GPI are:
- Iceland
- New Zealand
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Slovenia
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Ireland
- Czech Republic
- Canada
While the ten least peaceful countries are:
- Russia
- Central African Republic
- Libya
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Somalia
- Iraq
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen
- Afghanistan
As we can see in the report, 87 countries improved while 73 deteriorated in peacefulness. If we divide them by region, we will notice that out of nine regions, 3 improved, included MENA region, Europe and South Asia, while the other 6 regions deteriorated, always considering the three domains of the GPI.
Europe has been the most peaceful region since 2008, while the MENA region remains the least peaceful one, although some countries, such as Syria, recorded an improvement in the 2021 GPI.
ASIA-PACIFIC
The most peaceful country in this area is New Zealand that recorded a little deterioration due to the increasing of weapons imports and military expenditure, but it’s still the second most peaceful country of the world according to the 2021 GPI index. The disorders in Myanmar after the coup of February 2021 have caused a worsening in the domain of Ongoing Conflict and Safety and Security and, because of that, Myanmar is now the least peaceful country of the Asia-Pacific area.
CENTRAL AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN
In this region the most peaceful and the least peaceful countries are respectively Costa Rica and Mexico. We can find Costa Rica at the 39th position of the ranking despite an increase in terrorism impact, rising military expenditure as a percentage of GDP, and a reduced commitment to UN peacekeeping funding. With a high level of violence, political corruption and organised crime, Mexico remains the least peaceful country of the region and it also hold a very sad record: the five cities with the highest homicide rate in the world. The country of the region that recorded the biggest deterioration is Honduras, where the overcrowded prisons provoked fights, protests and violence between the organised crime clans.
EUROPE
Europe remains the most peaceful region in the world and is home to eight of the ten most peaceful countries, including Iceland that has been on the first position of the ranking since 2008, with its incarceration rate of 33 per 100,000 people that is the lowest in Europe, and the eighth lowest globally. The worst country in this region, talking about peacefulness, is Greece, due to its political instability caused by tensions with Turkey and the deterioration of the safety domains caused by incarceration and homicide rate indicators.
MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
Due to the ongoing situation and conflicts, the MENA area is, for the 6th consecutive year, the least peaceful region of the World. Yemen is the least peaceful country of the region, with the largest deterioration occurring on the refugees and IDPs (Internal Displaced People) and violent crime indicators. On the opposite side we can find Qatar as the most peaceful country of the MENA area and on the 29th place of the global ranking.
NORTH AMERICA
North America experimented the worst deterioration of all, with the average level of peacefulness in the region falling by 1.8 per cent, but it still remains the second most peaceful region of the ranking. Out of the two big countries, USA and Canada, the latter remains the most peaceful country and is ranked as the 10th most peaceful country in the world overall, one of only two non-European countries in the top ten.
RUSSIA AND EURASIA
Here we have a significant deterioration within the Militarisation domain, with weapons imports per capita, military expenditure as a percentage of GDP, and the armed services personnel rate all recording increases over the past year. The most peaceful country happens to be Moldova, while Russia is the least peaceful nation in the region and is one of the least peaceful countries in the world on the 2021 GPI, with an overall rank of 154 out of 163. Violent demonstration and political instability are the major causes of the deterioration in the Safety and Security domain, especially after the referendum passed in June 2020 that would allow the President Vladimir Putin to be in charge until 2036.
SOUTH AMERICA
In this region, the domain that underwent the big worsening was the Safety and Security one, due to the violent ongoing demonstrations and the deterioration of the relations between neighbouring countries. Moreover none of the South America nations have ranked in the 50 most peaceful countries of the 2021 GPI. Despite its political instability, Uruguay is the most peaceful country, while Venezuela is the least peaceful one, with a ranking of 152 out of 163.
SOUTH ASIA
Although it remains the second least peaceful region overall, South Asia was one of only three regions to record an improvement in peacefulness over the past year. Afghanistan has been the least peaceful country of the region and the entire world for 4 years. On the opposite side, Bhutan is the most peaceful country of the region and is ranking among the 25 most peaceful nations of the GPI.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
South Sudan remains the least peaceful country in the region and one of the least peaceful countries in the world, the most peaceful country in the region is, instead, Mauritius, which is ranked 28th on the 2021 GPI.
Conclusions:
Nowadays violence represents a very urgent issue and the key to building peacefulness in times of conflict and uncertainty is Positive Peace that occurs where attitudes make violence less tolerated. You can read more about Positive Peace in our previous articles “The Cost of Peace and War”.
Giudi Aligi
References:
Institute of Economics and Peace, Global Peace Index (2021)
https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GPI-2021-web.pdf
