Indicators of Peace & Declining Peacefulness in 103 Countries
A CSNN India Desk analysis examining global peacefulness, social security, conflict, militarisation and the institutional conditions shaping the position of major international powers.
Nandini Dash
Global Peace Index · Article Data File
Measuring the State of Global Peace
The article examines the Global Peace Index through its institutional methodology, international rankings and the wider relationship between peace, justice, social cohesion, governance and public security.
Independent states and territories surveyed by the Institute for Economics & Peace.
Qualitative and quantitative indicators used within the Global Peace Index framework.
Safety and security, ongoing conflict and militarisation.
The deteriorating trend of peacefulness identified in the submitted article.
CSNN Editorial Frame
Peace as an Institutional and Social Condition
This publication is presented within the CSNN India Desk analytical line. It examines peace not only as the absence of direct conflict, but also through justice, social cohesion, public security, institutional credibility, economic inequality and the protection of civil and human rights.
Global Peace Index Architecture
Three Domains of Peacefulness
Societal Safety and Security
The conditions affecting public security, social stability, violent crime, political instability and individual safety.
Ongoing Conflict
Domestic and international conflict, conflict deaths, external involvement and the persistence of organised violence.
Militarisation
Military expenditure, armed services, weapons capabilities and the wider weight of military structures within a state.
Article · CSNN India Desk
Global Peace Index 2026 – Indicators of Peace & Declining Peacefulness in 103 Countries
Peace establishes when fairness prevails over injustice. The root of justice or injustice lies in the society. If it is polluted, messy, non-discriminatory or prone to equality, welfare of the people, that reflects in its systems, governments and in character of majority population.
Aggregate of the quality of tranquility published on ‘Global Peace Index 2026’ by The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), a think tank located at Sydney, Australia and branches in other parts of the world.
Considering 23 indicators of peace as norms, the 2026 Global Peace Index released with the shocking truth of declining peacefulness in 103 countries.
The Institute for Economics & Peace surveyed in 163 independent states and territories, The result found deteriorating trend of peacefulness in 103 countries compared to the year 2008.
This year Iceland occupies the first rank for 19 consecutive years.
Western and Central Europe found as the most peaceful region.
As per the report, Middle East and North Africa are the least peaceful regions.
The 23 indicators of peacefulness mentioned by the Institute for Economics & Peace are sub-division of 3 domains. They are –
- Societal safety and security
- Ongoing conflict
- Militarisation
So called democracies and developed countries, although they are not directly engaged in on going conflicts and military rule, their societal safety and security conditions are perishing.
Iceland · First Place
The country occupies the first position for the nineteenth consecutive year in the ranking referenced by the author.
To rank at the top of the Global Peace Index 2026, Iceland scored 1.161 on a scale ranging from 1 to 5.
Three expectational elements Iceland has that makes it the most peaceful nation compared to other countries are.
- Low crime rates
- Strong Social Cohesion
- Absence of a standing military
India, the most populous, largest democracy with an ancient civilization ranks 127th out of 163 countries on the 2026 Global Peace Index.
Against the ranking a retaliatory message published on organiser.org
“Since its inception that its structure inherently favors smaller nations.
Can India, the world’s largest democracy with a population of approximately 1.5 billion, truly be evaluated using the same yardstick applied to Iceland (population 300,000) or New Zealand (population 5 million)?
Other than mudslinging, an introspection of the facts can say what reforms and changes needed to manage the man power and establish peace not in paper but in reality.
- The 2025-26 indiabudget.gov.in published, the unemployment rate is 8.12%. The actual numbers are much more behind gig economy, seasonal jobs, and lay-off.
- 10% India’s population holds 73% of country’s opulence.
- The 2026 corruption index released by Transparency International ranked India at 91 positions as per level of pay -off.
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According to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) ,
“Several Indigenous Peoples in the North-Eastern region and the Naxalite-affected areas of the “tribal belt” were victims of human rights abuses”. - In 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, India ranked 157th out of 180 countries.
- World Population Review says in Education facilities, India’s place is at 101 place globally.
Recent leaks of question papers of several national exams like NEET-UG (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) and several other examinations are standing at the side of tumbling down education system. Out of such circumstances some students also committed suicide.
To divert attention, form these irregularities, arrest of a generous and popular private teacher and philanthropist, is burning example of breach of peace and igniting issues that divides the society.
The first economy and permanent member of the Security Council of the UN, The USA ranked 134th place at the Global Peace Index 2026.
China, world’s second largest economy, another permanent member of the UN Security Council is at the 118th place in 2026. While China carrying an exemplary record of uplifting approximately 800 million people out of poverty line.
In the 2026 Global Peace Index, Russia placed at the bottom with 163rd out of 163 ranked nations. Russia is also one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Ranking Positions Referenced in the Article
Recognizing loopholes and restructuring systems, necessary to curb declining trend of peacefulness worldwide.
Primary Institutional Reference
Institute for Economics & Peace
Global Peace Index 2026 — the international report referenced throughout the submitted article.
View the GPI 2026 ReportCSNN Article Intelligence Record
