STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL
PEACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The independent resource on global security

Appendix 2B. The Global Peace Index 2011

Contents

I. Introduction

II. Highlights and changes

III. Methodology and data sources

IV. Investigating peace at the subnational level

Table 2B.1. The Global Peace Index 2011

Table 2B.2. Countries with the greatest change in Global Peace Index scores, 2010–11

Table 2B.3. Measures of ongoing domestic and international conflict

Table 2B.4. Measures of societal safety and security

Table 2B.5. Measures of militarization

Table 2B.6. The indicators for national peace indices

Table 2B.7. The US Peace Index 2011

 

Read the full appendix [PDF]. 

Summary

The Global Peace Index (GPI) seeks to determine what cultural attributes and institutions are associated with states of peace. It ranks 153 countries by their relative states of peace using 23 indicators.

 

The most and least peaceful states, 2011
Rank Country Score   Rank Country Score
1   Iceland  1.148     149  North Korea   3.092
2   New Zealand 1.279     150  Afghanistan 3.212
3   Japan 1.287     151  Sudan 3.223
4   Denmark 1.289     152 Iraq 3.296
5   Czech Republic   1.320     153  Somalia 3.379

Iceland regained first place due to restored political stability. Island nations generally fare well, with most in the top half of the GPI, as do small, stable and democratic countries.

 

 

Camilla Schippa (Italy) is a Director of the Institute for Economics and Peace.

 

Daniel Hyslop (Australia) is Research Manager at the Institute for Economics and Peace.

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