The latest findings from the 17th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) shed light on the most peaceful and dangerous countries worldwide for the year 2023. Conducted by the Institute for Economics and Peace, this annual index ranks 163 independent states and territories, encompassing 99.7% of the global population.

According to the 2023 research, the overall global level of peacefulness has experienced a decline of 0.42%, marking the 13th deterioration in the last 15 years. Remarkably, 84 nations witnessed advancements, whereas 79 experienced a decrease in peaceful conditions during the course of 2022.

Afghanistan has secured the unfortunate distinction of being named the least peaceful country for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The conflict in Ukraine had a substantial impact on global tranquility, leading to the most significant deterioration for both Ukraine and Russia, ranking as the largest and fifth-largest declines, respectively. Despite these adversities, Europe sustains its position as the world’s most peaceful region, boasting seven of the top 10 most peaceful countries.

Haiti, Mali, and Israel experienced the most significant deterioration, while Iceland has been the world’s most peaceful country since 2008. It shares the index’s summit with Denmark, Ireland, Austria, and New Zealand.

Examining the rankings, the United Kingdom is placed as the 37th most peaceful nation, a slight decrease from the previous year, with a “high” state of peace ranking on the scale that ranges from “very high” to “very low.” Meanwhile, the United States is categorized as “low” on the peacefulness scale, securing the 131st position, consistent with the previous year’s ranking. The report underscores a modest decline in the United States trend of peacefulness since 2015, citing safety and security issues, notably in the perceptions of criminality and indicators related to homicide rates, as key contributors to this downturn.

The Global Peace Index employs 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators, measuring peace across three domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization. Please be aware that the report was created before the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October and the ongoing volcanic activity in Iceland.

The Institute for Economics and Peace, based in Sydney, Australia, is credited with producing the Global Peace Index. Positioned as an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank, the institute contributes to a comprehensive understanding of global peace and its various dimensions.

The most dangerous countries in the world for 2023, based on the Global Peace Index, are:

1. Afghanistan
2. Yemen
3. Syria
4. South Sudan
5. Democratic Republic of the Congo
6. Russia
7. Ukraine
8. Somalia
9. Sudan
10. Iraq