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Global Peace Index 2026
Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026
The 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI), published by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), marks the 20th edition of this influential report. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the state of global peace across 163 independent states and territories, representing 99.7% of the world’s population.
Key Findings and Global Trends
The 2026 findings paint a sobering picture, highlighting a world in the midst of a significant geopolitical shift.
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12 Consecutive Years of Deterioration: Global peacefulness has declined for the 12th year in a row. The average level of country peacefulness deteriorated by 0.7% over the past year.
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The "Great Fragmentation": This year's report identifies a profound geopolitical era characterized by the "Great Fragmentation." This shift is driven by the waning influence of traditional European powers and the rising assertiveness of middle-power nations, such as Indonesia, Türkiye, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates.
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Record-High Conflict: The number of active state-based conflicts is at its highest point since the end of World War II. Internationalized intrastate conflicts—where domestic conflicts involve external nations—have surged by over 175% since 2010.
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Technological Warfare: The report highlights a "rapid technological revolution" in warfare. Drones have become a defining weapon, with attacks rising approximately 11,500% between 2018 and 2025. Additionally, the emergence of AI in combat decisions—where machines can make life-and-death choices faster than humans—poses significant ethical and regulatory challenges that current international frameworks are struggling to address.
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Forced Displacement: The number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) remains at a staggering 117 million as of 2025.
Rankings: Most and Least Peaceful Countries
The index evaluates 23 indicators across three primary domains: Ongoing Conflict, Safety and Security, and Militarization.
Top 10 Most Peaceful Countries (2026)
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Iceland (19th consecutive year at #1)
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New Zealand
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Switzerland
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Slovenia
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Ireland
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Austria
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Portugal
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Singapore
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Finland
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Japan
Least Peaceful Countries (2026)
At the bottom of the rankings are nations experiencing severe instability, often due to protracted internal and external conflicts:
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Russia (Ranked 163rd)
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Sudan
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Ukraine
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Israel
Notable Observations
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Poland’s Improvement: Poland recorded the most significant improvement of any country in the index, rising 23 places to 22nd globally. This was largely driven by progress in the "Ongoing Conflict" domain and improved relations with neighbors.
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India’s Position: India saw a decline in its peacefulness score, moving to 127th place (down from 115th in 2025).
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The United States: The U.S. is ranked 134th, with the report noting an increase in violent demonstrations and deterioration in internal conflict indicators.
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Context of the Iran War: The report emphasizes that while it discusses the economic and geopolitical impacts of the conflict in Iran (which began in early 2026), the 2026 Index calculations only partially capture these events as many indicators were finalized earlier.
Conclusion: The Future of Peace
The 2026 GPI stresses that traditional mechanisms for ending wars are becoming less effective, with the share of state-based conflicts ending in formal peace agreements falling significantly since the 1970s. The report calls for a concerted global effort to address the root causes of conflict—including resource scarcity, state capacity, and the unchecked spread of autonomous weapons systems—to reverse the current downward trajectory of global peace.
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