Full Breakdown
2026 Global Peace Index Reveals Continued Decline in Worldwide Peace
6/18/2026, 4:37:30 AM
2026 Index Highlights
The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) released the 20th edition of its Global Peace Index (GPI) in 2026, ranking 163 independent states and territories—covering 99.7 % of the world’s population. The report shows that global peacefulness fell for the 12th straight year, with 99 countries recording a decline and only 62 improving. Overall, the average level of peace deteriorated by 0.7 % compared with the previous year.
Historical Context and Trend Overview
Since its first publication in 2008, the GPI has tracked 23 indicators of peace. The index notes that 119 countries are less peaceful now than in 2008, marking the 15th deterioration in the last 18 years. A long-term pattern emerges: the share of state-based conflicts ending in a peace agreement has dropped from 23 % in the 1970s to about 4 % in the 2010s, indicating that traditional mechanisms for ending wars are losing effectiveness.
Top-Ranked Nations and Notable Movers
- Iceland retained the top spot for the 19th consecutive year.
- New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Ireland completed the five-nation podium.
- Canada rose to #14 with a score of 1,525, moving up one place from 2025.
- The United States slipped four positions to #134 with 2,535 points, placing it in the “low” peace category.
- Russia occupies the bottom rank, while Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, and Israel round out the five least peaceful nations.
Quantitative Snapshot
- 163 countries assessed.
- 99 countries deteriorated; 62 improved.
- 0.7 % average global decline in peace.
- 119 nations less peaceful than in 2008.
- Western and Central Europe remain the most peaceful region; Middle East and North Africa the least.
- Eastern Europe and Central Asia was the only GPI region to improve, while South Asia suffered the largest regional deterioration, driven by declines in Nepal and Pakistan.
Implications of the Decline
The persistent downturn underscores growing instability in conflict-prone regions and suggests that diplomatic frameworks for conflict resolution are weakening. With conflict identified as the primary driver of the long-run peace erosion, policymakers face heightened pressure to devise new mechanisms for de-escalation and post-conflict reconciliation.
Official Statements from the Institute for Economics & Peace
The IEP’s report emphasizes that the average global peace level fell by 0.7 % over the past year, marking a 12-year streak of decline. It highlights that 119 countries are now less peaceful than in 2008, and that conflict remains the chief factor behind the long-term deterioration. The institute also warns that historical mechanisms for ending wars are no longer working as effectively, as evidenced by the sharp drop in peace-agreement success rates.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The historical mechanisms for ending wars are no longer working as effectively: the share of state-based conflicts ending in a peace agreement has fallen from 23 per cent in the 1970s to about four per cent in the 2010s.” — Institute for Economics & Peace
- “This year’s results show that the average level of global peacefulness deteriorated by 0.7 per cent over the past year,” — Institute for Economics & Peace
- “There are now 119 countries that are less peaceful than they were in 2008, the year the GPI was first published, and conflict has been the primary driver of the long-run decline,” — Institute for Economics & Peace
- “In the past year alone, 99 countries recorded a fall in peacefulness compared with just 62 that improved, with the majority of the 23 GPI indicators deteriorating on average and seven of the eight GPI regions also recording a deterioration.” — Institute for Economics & Peace
Conflicting Reports & Data Gaps
The two sources consulted agree on the top-five rankings and the overall decline. Canada’s specific rank (#14) appears only in the Canadian-focused article; no contradictory figures are presented elsewhere, leaving a minor gap in cross-source verification for that datum. No other discrepancies are evident within the available excerpts.
