Global peace index 2013: the full list

Off By Sharon Black

The Global Peace Index for 2013 shows how world peace has changed over time – unsurprisingly, the violent conflict in Syria has had a big impact on the findings

Get the data

The world has become a less peaceful place according to the Institute for Economics and Peace. In their annual report, the Global Peace Index, they rank 162 countries by measuring security in society, the extent of conflict and the degree of militarisation. This year’s report reinforces a longer term pattern they have noted: since 2008 levels of peace have fallen by 5%.

Their findings are not altogether bleak. While the number and intensity of internal conflicts has risen in recent years, hostility between states has fallen. Overall, they found that 110 states have become less peaceful and that 48 have become more so.

Despite financial turmoil of recent years, Iceland has topped the list, thanks largely to its political stability, low homicide rate and small prison population. The top of the list was littered with Western European nations that have long been peaceful; Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden and Belgium all made it to the top 10. In 6th place, with stringent laws on …read more