Global Peace Index 2010

The world is less peaceful than last year is the sad news from the Institute for Economics and Peace Global Peace Index (GPI) 2010. The GPI monitors domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society and militarisation in 149 countries. It recorded increases in several indicators including the likelihood of demonstrations and perceptions of criminality. Some indicators seemed to link with the recent global economic downturn.

It is the fourth edition of the GPI and it has increased to rank 149 independent states. An international panel selected 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators to make up the index. The experts included academics, business people, philanthropists and leading international pacifists. The country most at peace was New Zealand followed by Iceland and Japan in third. Iraq was the most war torn country followed by Somalia and Afghanistan.

The GPI results were correlated with several economic and societal indicators to contribute an understanding of what factors help to create and sustain peace in the world. The GPI is collated and calculated by the Economist Intelligence Unit who co-operated in writing the report.