Global Peace Index: Nigeria Ranked Among Least Peaceful Nations Behind Israel, Others

In the latest Global Peace Index (GPI) report released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Nigeria is listed as one of the world’s least peaceful countries.

Positioned at 144th out of 163 nations, Nigeria’s peace ranking is slightly higher than that of Israel, despite both facing major security challenges.

The GPI, now in its 17th edition, evaluates 163 countries, covering 99.7% of the global population. It uses 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from reputable sources to assess peacefulness across three domains: Societal Safety and Security, Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and Militarisation.

This year’s GPI indicates a slight decline in global peacefulness, marking a 0.42 percent deterioration and continuing a worrying trend where peacefulness has decreased in 13 of the last 15 years. While 84 countries showed improvements, 79 witnessed declines, emphasizing

Despite global challenges, Iceland retains its position as the most peaceful country, a title it has held since 2008. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, continuing as the least peaceful nation for eight consecutive years. Notably, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, despite hosting four of the ten least peaceful countries, also recorded the most significant regional improvement in peace.

The GPI highlights significant impacts on global peace, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has dramatically affected the region’s peace rankings. In contrast, the largest improvements in peace were observed in Libya, followed by nations such as Burundi and Oman.

Overall, the report paints a complex picture of global peace, with some regions showing improvements in certain indicators such as reduced terrorism impact and lower homicide rates, while others face deteriorations in political stability and an increase in external and internal conflicts.