Global Peace Index 2024
Global Peace Index 2024: Safety, Conflict, and Data Insights
The Global Peace Index (GPI) has measured peace across 163 countries for over 15 years. The GPI 2024 continues this work, offering data on which countries are most peaceful, which face the most conflict, and what drives changes in national safety.
This guide covers the GPI 2024 methodology, key features, practical applications, and answers to common questions.
What is the Global Peace Index 2024?
The Global Peace Index is produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), an independent, non-partisan think tank. The GPI 2024 ranks 163 independent states and territories, covering over 99.7% of the world's population.
The index goes beyond counting wars. It measures peace across three domains using 23 indicators:
Societal Safety and Security:
- Measures violent crime, political instability, terrorism impact, perceptions of criminality, and internal conflict. High social cohesion and low internal conflict produce strong scores here.
Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict:
- Quantifies involvement in internal and external conflicts, including the number and duration of conflicts, relations with neighboring countries, deaths from organized conflict, and conflict intensity.
Militarisation:
- Tracks military expenditure as a percentage of GDP, armed services personnel per 100,000 people, weapons imports and exports, and nuclear and heavy weapons capabilities.
Each indicator is scored, and scores are aggregated into a single composite score per country. A lower score means higher peacefulness.
Key Features and Benefits
Features
- Comprehensive Global Ranking: 163 nations ranked, providing a complete snapshot of peacefulness worldwide.
- Multi-Domain Analysis: Peacefulness broken into three interconnected domains, revealing why countries rank where they do.
- Detailed Indicator Data: Scores for all 23 indicators, enabling in-depth research and analysis.
- Interactive Visualization: The IEP website offers dynamic maps and data tools that make complex datasets accessible.
- Historical Trend Analysis: Data stretching back to 2007 allows tracking of long-term changes in peacefulness.
- Regional and Thematic Analysis: Reports cover regional trends, economic impact of violence, and specific issues like climate change and refugee flows.
- Economic Impact Metrics: The GPI calculates the financial cost of violence to global and national economies.
Benefits
- Decision-Making: Policymakers and international organizations use GPI data to inform foreign policy, allocate aid, and design peacebuilding programs.
- Risk Assessment: Businesses and investors use GPI scores to evaluate political stability and security risks in target markets.
- Advocacy: NGOs and humanitarian organizations cite GPI data to support campaigns and funding requests.
- Education: Students and researchers in international relations, political science, and peace studies use the GPI as a primary source.
- Travel Planning: Travelers use GPI scores to assess relative safety, alongside official advisories.
- Benchmarking: Nations can compare their progress against peers and track accountability.
How to Use the Global Peace Index 2024
Step 1: Access the Report
- Visit the IEP website at economicsandpeace.org.
- Download the full PDF report for detailed analysis, methodology, and country profiles.
- Explore the interactive maps and data tools on the website.
Step 2: Understand the Methodology
- Read the executive summary first.
- Study the methodology section to understand the three domains, 23 indicators, and scoring system.
- Remember: a lower score means higher peacefulness. Scores range from 1 to 5.
Step 3: Interpret Global and Regional Trends
- Review the overall global picture and the global average score.
- Examine regional breakdowns to understand why certain areas rank higher or lower.
- Identify key drivers like terrorism, political instability, or climate change.
Step 4: Analyze Country Data
- Start with the top and bottom rankings for context.
- View individual country profiles to see:
- Overall GPI score and rank
- Scores across the three domains
- Performance on each of the 23 indicators
- Historical trends
- Compare countries within the same region or with similar economic profiles.
Step 5: Apply the Data
- Research: Extract data points for academic papers, policy briefs, or presentations.
- Advocacy: Use the data to support arguments for peacebuilding and humanitarian aid.
- Business Decisions: Integrate GPI findings into risk assessments for expansion, investment, or supply chain management.
- Education: Incorporate GPI data into curricula on conflict resolution and global affairs.
Use Cases
1. Policymakers and International Relations
- Inform foreign policy and diplomatic efforts.
- Target development aid to areas of greatest need.
- Conduct national security assessments.
2. NGOs and Humanitarian Organizations
- Build evidence-based advocacy campaigns.
- Design effective conflict resolution programs.
- Strengthen grant proposals with credible data.
3. Academics and Students
- Conduct empirical research on peace and conflict dynamics.
- Develop curricula in peace studies, political science, and international relations.
- Support thesis and dissertation research with historical data.
4. Business and Risk Management
- Assess market entry and investment risks.
- Evaluate supply chain vulnerabilities in high-conflict regions.
- Inform political risk insurance underwriting.
5. Journalists and Analysts
- Add depth and authority to reporting on global events.
- Provide context beyond daily headlines.
- Create infographics from GPI visualizations.
6. Citizens and Travelers
- Develop a more nuanced understanding of global events.
- Plan international travel with better safety awareness.
- Support organizations working toward peace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What does a country's GPI score represent?
A: A GPI score is a composite of 23 indicators across three domains: Societal Safety and Security, Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and Militarisation. A lower score indicates higher peacefulness. Scores range from 1 (most peaceful) to 5 (least peaceful).
Q2: Who produces the GPI, and how often is it updated?
A: The IEP produces the GPI annually, typically releasing new reports in June. The GPI 2024 is the latest edition.
Q3: How are the 23 indicators weighted?
A: Indicators are not equally weighted. Deaths from internal conflict and political terror carry more weight than other indicators. The full weighting scheme is detailed in the report's methodology section.
Q4: Can I compare a country's score over time?
A: Yes. Historical data goes back to 2007, allowing users to track long-term trends and assess the impact of specific events or policies.
Q5: What trends have previous reports highlighted?
A: Previous GPI reports have shown a general decline in global peacefulness over the past decade, driven by increased conflict in the Middle East and Africa, rising terrorism, and geopolitical instability. The GPI 2024 addresses the ongoing impacts of regional conflicts, geopolitical realignments, and climate change.
Q6: How does the GPI relate to other development indices?
A: The GPI often correlates with measures of human development, governance quality, economic stability, and corruption. High peace levels typically align with strong performance in these areas.
Q7: Does the GPI account for different cultural definitions of peace?
A: The GPI uses an objective, data-driven definition based on the absence of violence and fear. Its indicators are designed for universal applicability. The IEP also publishes a separate Positive Peace Index that examines attitudes, institutions, and structures that sustain peaceful societies.
Q8: Where can I find specific country rankings?
A: Country rankings appear in the GPI 2024 report's executive summary and detailed tables. The IEP website's interactive map and country profile tools also provide this data with dynamic filtering options.
Conclusion
The Global Peace Index 2024 provides a data-driven framework for understanding peace, conflict, and safety across 163 countries. Its methodology, historical depth, and accessible presentation make it a practical resource for policymakers, researchers, businesses, and citizens.
By quantifying peace and tracking its changes over time, the GPI 2024 supports informed decision-making and a clearer understanding of the factors that contribute to global stability.