India is currently ranked 141 out of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2019, dropping five places from its 2018 ranking of 136. The GPI is a measure of the relative position of nations’ and regions’ peacefulness and is released by the Australian think tank Institute for Economics & Peace.
Understanding the Global Peace Index
The GPI was initiated by Steve Killelea, an Australian technology entrepreneur and philanthropist. Its purpose is to rank countries according to their level of peacefulness. The ranking is determined based on three thematic domains: societal safety and security, the extent of domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarisation. Recently, the assessment of the possible effects of climate change on peace has been included in the research.
Global Trends in Peacefulness
Over the last five years, the global score of the GPI has shown signs of improvement. Out of all nations, 86 countries have shown improvements in their levels of peace, while 76 have recorded deteriorations.
Notable Rankings
According to the report, Iceland remains the most peaceful country worldwide, maintaining this position since 2008. Other countries at the top of the GPI include New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark. Conversely, Afghanistan has replaced Syria as the least peaceful country in the world. South Sudan, Yemen, and Iraq also figure amongst the bottom five, alongside Syria.
In terms of South Asian nations, Bhutan leads the way, holding the 15th rank. This is followed by Sri Lanka at 72nd, Nepal at 76th, Bangladesh at 101st, and Pakistan at 153rd.
Military Expenditure & Climate Hazards
| Country | Military Expenditure Ranking |
|---|---|
| United States | 1 |
| China | 2 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 |
| Russia | 4 |
| India | 5 |
The report includes an interesting observation about military expenditure, highlighting that the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and India are the top five countries with the largest total military expenditure.
Climate Change and Peace
Another crucial section of the report discusses the risk of multiple climate hazards. It lists India, along with the Philippines, Japan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Pakistan as the nine countries most at risk from multiple climate hazards. Specifically, India holds the 7th highest overall natural hazard score. This new addition to the GPI report goes a long way in illustrating the interconnected nature of climate change and peace.