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Global Peace Index 2025: A Troubling Trend in Global Peace

The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) has released its Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2025, revealing a worrying trend of continuous decline in global peace. This year's findings emphasize a worsening situation, indicating the most severe conditions preceding conflicts since World War II.

Key Findings

The GPI highlights various alarming indicators:

• - Record Low Peace Levels: Global peace is at its lowest since the inception of the GPI, marking a consistent deterioration every year since 2014, impacting 100 countries over the last decade.
• - Increased State Conflicts: The number of active state conflicts has surged to 59, the highest figure post-World War II, with 152,000 conflict-related deaths recorded in 2024 alone.
• - Worsening Internal Conflicts: In 2024, 17 countries reported more than 1,000 deaths from internal conflicts, the highest since 1999.
• - Economic Cost of Violence: The global economic impact of violence reached a staggering $19.97 trillion in 2024, accounting for 11.6% of global GDP, with military expenditure alone accounting for $2.7 trillion.

These indicators collectively point to a world marked by increasing fragmentation, where geopolitical tensions and power struggles significantly shape international relations.

The Greater Fragmentation

The concept of 'Greater Fragmentation' refers to the remapping of global order, driven by the rise of middle powers, intensified competition among superpowers, and an unsustainable increase in debt among fragile economies. This fragmentation is reshaping influence on a global scale, nearly tripling the number of influential countries since the end of the Cold War, from 13 to 34 by 2023.

Regional Analysis

• - Western and Central Europe: Remains the most peaceful region, with Iceland leading the index, although the region faces challenges from reduced foreign aid and declining democratic values.
• - Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Continues to be the least peaceful area, with four of its countries, including Sudan and Yemen, ranking among the bottom of the GPI.
• - Sub-Saharan Africa: The most conflict-laden, with a staggering 35 out of 43 countries involved in conflicts over the past five years.
• - North America: Canada has seen significant declines due to deteriorating relations with the U.S., highlighting regional tensions.

Technology and Modern Warfare

The evolution of technology further complicates this landscape. The accessibility of modern warfare tools, such as drones, is shifting conflict dynamics. The number of companies producing drones has skyrocketed, showcasing the shift towards more prolonged and accessible warfare. Ukraine's development and deployment of drones exemplify how new technology can dramatically alter traditional conflict strategies.

Concluding Thoughts

As we navigate through these troubling trends, Steve Killelea, founder and executive chairman of the IEP, emphasizes the urgent need for a consolidated global approach to conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The GPI for 2025 serves as a critical reminder of our world at a pivotal juncture where the rise of fragmentations poses a serious challenge to future stability. Addressing these challenges requires not only understanding the symptoms but also committing to the processes that mitigate conflict and promote enduring peace. The ongoing dialogue among nations to build cooperative frameworks is essential to reverse these alarming trends and cultivate a more peaceful global community.

For further details, the complete GPI report and an interactive map are available at visionofhumanity.org.