Global Peace Index 2019

• 13 Jun 2019

India's is ranked 141 among 163 countries on the Global Peace Index 2019. The ranking of India in 2018 was the 136th.

Global Peace Index(GPI)

• The GPI was founded by Steve Killelea, an Australian technology entrepreneur and philanthropist.
• It is released by Australian think tank Institute for Economics & Peace.
• It ranks countries according to their level of peacefulness based on three thematic domains:
  • The level of societal safety and security.
  • The extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict.
  • The degree of militarisation.
• Possible effects of climate change on peace is newly included in this research.
• In the last five year, the global score of GPI has improved, with 86 countries improving and 76 recording deteriorations.

Findings of the Report

• Most peaceful: Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008.
  Other countries at top of the Global Peace Index (GPI) are New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark.
• Least peaceful: Afghanistan is now the least peaceful country in the world, replacing Syria, which is now the second least peaceful.
  South Sudan, Yemen, and Iraq comprise the remaining five least peaceful countries
• Position of South Asian countries: Bhutan topped the index with 15th rank, Sri Lanka 72, Nepal 76, Bangladesh 101 and Pakistan 153rd on the index.
• Climate hazards: India together with the Philippines, Japan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan are the nine countries with the highest risk of multiple climate hazards.
  • India has the 7th highest overall natural hazard score.
• Military expenditure: US, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and India are the top five countries with the largest total military expenditure.