Overview
The 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI) reveals a world becoming less peaceful for the 12th consecutive year. India fell sharply to 127th place amid regional tensions, while Iceland retained the top spot for the 19th straight year. Russia was ranked the least peaceful nation, highlighting the growing toll of modern warfare.
Global Peace Hits a Historic Low
The 2026 GPI, the 20th edition of the index, shows that the world is considerably less peaceful than it was a year ago. For the 12th consecutive year, global peacefulness deteriorated. Of the 163 independent states and territories covered, 99 countries recorded a decline in their peace scores – the highest number since the index was first published two decades ago.
A staggering 119 countries are now less peaceful than they were when the index began in 2007. This long-term decline is driven by an unprecedented surge in global conflicts, with 2024 recording 61 active state-based conflicts – the highest number since the end of World War II. The number of countries engaged in external conflicts has nearly doubled, rising from 59 in 2008 to 103 in 2026.
The New Face of War: AI and Drones
The 2026 report highlights a profound and frightening shift in modern warfare. The number of drone attacks rose by an astronomical 11,500% between 2018 and 2025. Furthermore, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has compressed battlefield decision-making times from a full day to mere seconds.
"The most significant of these clusters is the arc of instability now stretching from South Asia through Iran and the Middle East, and into the Horn of Africa," warned Steve Killelea, founder and executive chairman of IEP.
The Staggering Economic Cost of Violence
The economic impact of this global unrest is massive. The global economic impact of violence increased by 3.2% to a record US$21.81 trillion** in 2025, which is equivalent to a staggering **10.5% of the world's GDP**. For the ten most conflict-affected nations, this figure averaged a crippling 23.4% of their GDP. Meanwhile, global military spending reached a record **US$2.9 trillion , but the report notes that global peacebuilding and peacekeeping spending in 2025, at US$49.2 billion, was just 0.5% of that figure.
Ranking the Most and Least Peaceful Nations
Top 5 Safest Countries (Most Peaceful)
Iceland retained the title of the world's most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year. Its strengths include having no standing army, extremely low crime rates, and strong social cohesion. Here is the top 10 ranking for 2026:
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Iceland (Topped for 19th year)
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New Zealand (Climbed to second place)
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Switzerland (Slipped to third place)
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Slovenia (Moved up to fourth)
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Ireland (Rounded out the top five)
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Austria
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Portugal
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Singapore
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Finland
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Japan
Least Peaceful Countries (Least Peaceful)
At the other end of the spectrum, Russia was ranked as the least peaceful nation for the second consecutive year. The bottom five are:
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Russia (Remained in last place due to high militarization)
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Sudan
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Ukraine
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Israel (In the midst of the conflict in Gaza)
India's Performance and South Asia's Sharp Decline
The 2026 GPI reveals a world growing less peaceful, with South Asia experiencing the steepest regional deterioration.
India's Ranking and Reasons
India recorded a significant drop in its peace ranking, slipping from around 115th place in 2025 to 127th in 2026. This decline was attributed to a 2.9% deterioration in its overall peace score. Key factors cited include ongoing tensions with Pakistan and Myanmar, as well as continuing ethnic violence in the state of Manipur.
South Asia: Regional Rankings
Bhutan remains South Asia's most peaceful nation, ranked 16th globally. Other regional rankings are as follows:
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Bhutan: 16th
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Sri Lanka: 67th (Significant leap of 30 places)
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Nepal: 111th (Dropped 26 places, the largest single-country fall)
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Bangladesh: 117th
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India: 127th
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Pakistan: 152nd
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Afghanistan: 157th
While most of its neighbours saw their situations worsen, Sri Lanka was a notable exception. The island nation rose 30 places to 67th globally, recording the largest percentage improvement in South Asia.
How the Global Peace Index is Calculated
The GPI is the world's leading measure of global peacefulness. It uses 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators to rank 163 independent states and territories. These indicators measure the state of peace across three distinct domains:
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The level of Societal Safety and Security
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The extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict
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The degree of Militarisation
Each of the 23 indicators is scored on a scale of 1 to 5; the lower the overall score, the higher the level of peacefulness.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Global Peace Index is a stark warning. The world is not only becoming less peaceful, but the nature of conflict itself is being fundamentally rewritten by AI and drone technology, outpacing the ability of international laws and governments to respond. With South Asia as a major hotspot, the report’s findings have significant implications for global stability and economic prosperity.
Exam-Focused Points
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Global Peace Index (GPI) : Produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP).
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2026 GPI Ranking : India fell to 127th place from 115th in 2025.
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India's Score Deterioration : 2.9% decline in peacefulness; tensions with Pakistan/Myanmar and Manipur violence are key factors.
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Top Performer (Most Peaceful) : Iceland (topped for 19th consecutive year).
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Top 10 Peaceful Countries (2026) : Iceland, New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia, Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Singapore, Finland, and Japan.
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Bottom Performer (Least Peaceful) : Russia (ranked last).
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Number of Indicators : The GPI ranks countries based on 23 indicators across three domains.
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Global Context : 99 countries became less peaceful in 2026; the global economic impact of violence hit a record US$21.81 trillion in 2025.
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Conflict Levels : The number of active state-based conflicts (61) is the highest since WWII.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the Global Peace Index (GPI) and who publishes it?
A: The GPI is the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness. It is published annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) .
Q2: Where does India rank in the 2026 Global Peace Index?
A: India is ranked 127th place.
Q3: Which country is ranked as the most peaceful in the world for 2026?
A: Iceland remains the most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year.
Q4: Which country is ranked as the least peaceful in the world for 2026?
A: Russia is ranked as the least peaceful country.
Q5: What methodology is used to calculate the GPI?
A: The GPI uses 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators to assess the state of peace across three domains: Societal Safety and Security; Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict; and Militarisation.