India Ranked 127th in Global Peace Index 2026

According to the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026, prepared by the 'Institute for Economics and Peace' (IEP), the level of global peace is steadily declining, primarily due to armed conflicts.

This is the 20th edition of the GPI; it ranks 163 independent nations and territories based on their level of peace and covers 99.7 percent of the world's population.

India has witnessed a 2.9 percent decline in its level of peace and now ranks 127th globally.

In the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025, India ranked 115th out of 163 countries. India's peace score in that index was 2.229.

This decline was primarily driven by the deterioration of indicators related to conflict. The report highlights rising tensions with Pakistan and Myanmar, as well as the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.

Parameters of the Global Peace Index 2026

It measures the state of peace using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators across three domains: the level of societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflicts, and the degree of militarization.

This year's results indicate that the average global level of peace fell by 0.7% over the past year. This marks the 12th consecutive year of declining global peace and the 15th such decline in the last 18 years.

Of the 163 countries included in the index, 99 experienced a decline in peace levels, while 62 saw improvements. There are now 119 countries where peace levels are lower than they were in 2008.

Top and Bottom-Ranked Countries in Global Peace Index 2026

Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world for the 19th consecutive year; Next in line are New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Ireland.

Russia is the least peaceful country, while Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, and Israel are also among the bottom five nations.

Poland recorded the most significant improvement at the national level; its overall score improved by 9.1 percent, propelling it up 23 places to rank 22nd globally.

Nepal witnessed the sharpest decline; following 'Gen Z' protests in September 2025, its overall score dropped by 9.1 percent.

The United States saw a four percent decline in its standing, primarily driven by rising political instability (which deteriorated by 38.5 percent). The US also experienced a significant increase in violent protests. The country now ranks 134th on the GPI.

Performance of India's neighbors

Bhutan has maintained its position as the most peaceful country in South Asia, ranking 16th globally in the 2026 index.

Sri Lanka emerged as South Asia's biggest success story this year, improving its overall peace score by 2.3 percent. The island nation rose to 67th place globally, becoming the second most peaceful country in the region.

Nepal saw the greatest deterioration in South Asia, with its peace score falling by 9.1 percent and its ranking dropping to 111th place.

Among the 163 countries assessed in the Global Peace Index 2026, Bangladesh ranks 117th globally, making it the third most peaceful country in South Asia, following Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan's peace score declined by 5.5 percent, causing it to slip to 152nd place globally. Afghanistan once again ranked as the least peaceful country in South Asia and 157th globally.