What does Global Peace look like in 2016?

The Global Peace Index Records a Historically Less Peaceful and More Unequal World #GPI2016

The Global Peace Index ranks 163 countries from most peaceful to least peaceful

In the tenth edition of the annual Global Peace Index (GPI), the Institute for Economics and Peace has analysed the state of peace in 163 independent states and territories, covering 99.7% of the world’s population.

This year, findings indicate that the world is becoming less peaceful and the gap between the most and least peaceful countries continues to widen. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has seen the lowest levels of peace for the second year in a row and is largely driving the continued global decline in peace that’s been occurring over the last decade. In contrast, many countries outside MENA have recorded high levels of peacefulness.

The economic cost of violence in 2015 was $13.6 trillion (PPP). This is equivalent to 13.3% of World GDP and is 11 times the size of global foreign direct investment. The analysis shows that the economic losses from conflict dwarf the expenditures and investments in peacekeeping and peacebuilding; $742 billion compared to $15 billion.

Investment in peacekeeping and peacebuilding has increased from 2014 to 2015, but it still only represents two per cent of the global economic losses from conflict.

Deaths from terrorism have increased to an all-time high, battle deaths from conflict are at a 25 year high and the number of refugees and displaced people are at a level not seen in sixty years. Since 2008, deaths from terrorism have nearly tripled.

However, the trends over the past decade are not uniformly negative.

Today, 77 countries are more peaceful than ten years ago, with some at their most peaceful in history. Iceland is once again the world’s most peaceful country; Denmark, Austria, and New Zealand follow closely behind and Portugal joins the top five for the first time.

There has been a renewed effort by the international community to provide timely support to peacekeeping operations, including a 12 per cent improvement in UN peacekeeping funding. There are also more deployed peacekeepers as a result of this improvement, reflecting the global commitment to peacekeeping and global peace and security.

In addition, overall global military spending has decreased in the last three years and 106 out of 163 countries measured in the GPI reduced their military expenditure as a percentage of GDP.

This year, UN member states have formally recognised the critical nature of peacefulness in advancing global development by including Goal 16 in the Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 16 relates to the promotion of peace, justice and strong institutions and is a positive, practical step forward. However more data is needed. It will take significant time and investment for National Statistical Offices to develop the necessary statistical capacity to measure Goal 16 but in the meantime, third party initiatives will be required to fill the data gaps and act as a source of independent verification for the National Statistical Offices.

For more on the Global Peace Index and to view data for 163 countries please visit our interactive website, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter andInstagram. #GPI2016

Written by Sarah Cowley