posted on: 2011-05-27 23:02:53
• Libya tumbles 83 spots in rankings, largest ever fall in GPI history
• Iceland bounces back from economic woes to top ranking
• Somalia displaces Iraq as world’s least peaceful nation
• Violence cost the global economy more than $8.12 trillion in 2010
• US peacefulness shows minimal change
LONDON, May 25, 2011 – The threat of terrorist attacks and the likelihood of violent
demonstrations were the two leading factors making the world less peaceful in 2011,
according to the latest Global Peace Index (GPI), released today. This is the third
consecutive year that the GPI, produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), has
shown a decline in the levels of world peace. The economic cost of this to the global
economy was $8.12 trillion in the past year.
The GPI is the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness. It gauges ongoing domestic
and international conflict, safety and security in society, and militarisation in 153 countries by
taking into account 23 separate indicators.
The 2011 Index dramatically reflects the impact on national rankings of the Arab Spring.
Libya (143) saw the most significant drop – falling 83 places; Bahrain (123) dropped by 51
places – the second largest margin; while Egypt (73) dropped 24 places. Unrest caused by
economic instability also led to falls in levels of peacefulness in Greece (65), Italy (45), Spain
(28), Portugal (17) and Ireland (11).
“The fall in this year’s Index is strongly tied to conflict between citizens and their
governments; nations need to look at new ways of creating stability other than through
military force,” said Steve Killelea, founder and Executive Chairman of the IEP. “Despite
a decade-long war on terrorism, the potential for terrorist acts has increased this year
offsetting small gains made in prior years”.
While the overall level of peacefulness was down, this year’s data did show increased
peacefulness in some areas – most notably levels of military expenditure and relations
between neighbouring states Killelea continued: “There is increasing recognition that there is a real ‘peace dividend’ to be had. Our research identifies eight social attitudes and structures2 required to create peaceful, resilient and socially sustainable societies.”
Having high scores across all eight structures enabled Iceland to regain its position at the
top of this year’s Index, after slipping in last year’s ranking following violent demonstrations
related to the collapse of the country’s financial system and currency. High scores across
the governance structures also explain why Japan was able to retain its position in the
rankings – despite the external shock of this year’s earthquake and tsunami.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS / REGIONAL FINDINGS
If the word had been 25% more peaceful over the past year there would have been an
economic impact of US$2 trillion to the global economy
If the world had been 25% more peaceful over the past year the global economy would have
reaped an additional economic benefit of just over US$2 trillion. This amount would pay for
the 2% of global GDP per annum investment estimated by the Stern Review3 to avoid the
worst effects of climate change, cover the cost of achieving the Millennium Development
Goals4, eliminate the public debt of Greece, Portugal and Ireland5, and address the one-off
rebuilding costs of the most expensive natural disaster in history – the 2011 Japanese
earthquake and tsunami6.
Iceland is the world’s most peaceful nation, followed by New Zealand, Japan, Denmark
and the Czech Republic. Iraq (152) moved from the bottom of the Index for the first
time ever.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region least at peace, containing 40% of the world’s
least peaceful countries, Sudan (151) and Somalia (153) at the bottom of the Index.
For the fifth consecutive year, Western Europe is the most peaceful region with the
majority of countries ranking in the top 20. Four Nordic countries are ranked in the top ten;
however, Sweden drops to number 13 because of its arms-manufacturing industry and the
volume of exports of conventional weapons. Joining the European Union has had a
positive impact on the relevant members of Central and Eastern Europe with the Czech
Republic moving into the top ten (5th place) for the first time and Slovenia rising to 10th
position.
North America demonstrated a slight improvement since last year. Canada (8) jumped
6 places in this year’s rankings whereas the US's (82) overall score remained unchanged
although its ranking improved from 85th to 82nd.
NOTES TO EDITORS
GPI Results, related maps and charts are available at www.visionofhumanity.org.
About The Institute for Economics and Peace
The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) is an international research institute dedicated
to building a greater understanding of the inter-relationships between business, peace and
economics with particular emphasis on the economic benefits of peace.
The Institute’s ground-breaking research includes the Global Peace Index which is the
world’s leading measure of national peacefulness. The Institute also produces countryspecific
analysis including the United States Peace Index, released in 2011.
IEP is an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit organisation with offices in Sydney and
New York. IEP partners with numerous leading organisations internationally including the
Aspen Institute, the Economist Intelligence Unit, the Earth Institute at Columbia University,
the Club de Madrid, Monash University, and the Center for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS). It also collaborates with multinational organizations including the World
Bank, the OECD and the United Nations.
For more information please visit www.EconomicsandPeace.org
Contacts
Global: Hill & Knowlton for the GPI, gpi2011@hillandknowlton.com
Sara Jurkowsky, sjurkowsky@hillandknowlton.com, +44 207 973 5970
Rima Sacre, rsacre@hillandknowlton.com, +44 207 973 4427
US: Edelman for the GPI, Craig Brownstein, craig.brownstein@edelman.com, +1 202 326-
1799
Footnotes
1 Twenty-nine nations (particularly in Africa, the Middle East and Europe) experienced a rise in their terror
threat level making this the most significant negative influence on the Global Peace Index this year. In thirtythree
nations the likelihood for violent demonstrations increased.
2 The 8 structures are: Well-functioning government; Sound business environment; Equitable distribution of
resources; Acceptance of the rights of others; Good relations with neighbours; Free flow of information; High
levels of education; Low levels of corruption.
3 2% of global GDP= $1.124 billion; Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change, World Bank executive
summary URL:
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTINDONESIA/Resources/226271-1170911056314/3428109-
1174614780539/SternReviewEng.pdf
4 Cost of MDGs = $60 billion; World Bank (2002) The Costs of Attaining the Millennium Development Goals:
http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/mdgassessment.pdf
5 Public debt in Greece, Portugal and Ireland = $700 billion; Eurostat, euroindicators (26 April 2011) URL:
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-26042011-AP/EN/2-26042011-AP-EN.PDF
6 Rebuilding costs of $235 billion; World Bank (21 March 2011) URL:
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEAPHALFYEARLYUPDATE/Resources/550192-
1300567391916/EAP_Update_March2011_japan.pdf
