Iceland most peaceful country; India at 126

Iceland was named the most peaceful country in the world for the 15th consecutive year in the annual ranking compiled by the Institute for Economics & Peace on Wednesday. India stood at 126 while militarization in the United States is steadily making the country less peaceful.

India experienced “an improvement of 3.5 per cent in overall peacefulness over the past year, owing to improvements in violent crime, neighbouring countries relations and political instability”.

In its 2023 Global Peace Index, the group ranked 163 countries where 99.7% of the world’s population lives, determining how countries compare based on the level of “societal safety and security,” “ongoing domestic and international conflict,” and the degree of “militarization.”

India also stands 86 in economic costs of violence.

“The improvement in the neighbouring countries relations indicator occurred because of fewer incidences of cross-border violence and ceasefire violations with Pakistan and China in 2022. Furthermore, the reduction in geopolitical tensions with China owing to the reduction in border incidents, as well as less social unrest more generally, led to an improvement in the political instability indicator,” the report said.

Iceland had low rankings for each of the three categories and maintained its place at the top of the list, which it’s held every year the IEP has released the index.

An increase in the country’s homicide rate and the arrest of four people last year over a plot to attack several Icelandic politicians resulted in a 4% decline in its overall score, but “Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the region and the world,” according to the index.

The United States, on the other hand, has declined every year during the current decade, falling two places in the past year and 10 places since 2020.