Global tranquility took another hit in the 2025 Global Peace Index, continuing a troubling trend of decline. According to the latest findings, overall peacefulness slipped by approximately 0.36%, marking the 13th deterioration in 17 years.
Iceland remains the world’s safest nation, a title it has held since 2008. It continues to be followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Switzerland, reinforcing a Western and Central European dominance in global peace rankings.
Asia’s parliamentary star, Singapore, has earned its reputation too—landing 6th globally as the most peaceful country on the continent Prestige Online.
In contrast, Russia has dropped to last place, marking a grim milestone as the least peaceful country worldwide. It is trailed by Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Yemen. Experts cite surging militarism and ongoing conflict as major destabilizers.
Regionally, South America remains a silver lining: it recorded the only improvements last year, particularly in Peru and Argentina, driven by more stable governance and reduced civil unrest Vision of Humanity.
Meanwhile, South Asia and MENA (Middle East & North Africa) emerged as the most volatile regions. South Asia suffered steep declines, particularly in Bangladesh and Pakistan, while MENA’s persistent conflicts in Palestine, Sudan, and Syria deepened insecurity.
On the brighter side, some metrics like decreasing homicide rates, fewer violent demonstrations, and lower terrorism impact show modest improvements in the Safety & Security domain—offering small but meaningful progress in a largely deteriorating landscape.
Summary Table – Key Highlights:
| Focus Area | Insight |
|---|---|
| Global Trend | Peace declines for 13th time in 17 years, down ~0.36%. |
| Top Peace Index | Iceland leads, followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, Switzerland. |
| Asian Leader | Singapore among the top 6 in global ranking. |
| Bottom of the List | Russia now ranks the least peaceful, followed by Ukraine, Sudan, DRC, Yemen. |
| Regional Outliers | South America improves; South Asia & MENA decline further. |
| Safety Boosts | Some gains in crime and terrorism metrics in select regions. |