Russia and Ukraine ranked 162nd and 163rd out of 163 countries in the latest Global Peace Index, highlighting the devastating toll of prolonged war and deepening global instability.
At a Glance
- The 2024 Global Peace Index ranks Russia and Ukraine last out of 163 countries.
- Iceland, Ireland, and Austria were named the world’s most peaceful nations.
- The rankings measure 23 indicators, including militarization, conflict, and societal safety.
- The report shows a 6% drop in global peacefulness over the past 16 years.
- Researchers warn the world is experiencing its worst peace levels since 2008.
The Collapse of Peace in Eastern Europe
According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, published by the Institute for Economics & Peace, Russia and Ukraine were ranked 163rd and 162nd respectively, placing them at the bottom of the global peace spectrum. Their catastrophic scores stem from sustained warfare, severe militarization, and mass internal displacement. Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has caused tens of thousands of casualties and triggered a humanitarian crisis spanning multiple borders.
The Index, compiled annually using 23 quantitative and qualitative indicators, evaluates societal safety, domestic and international conflict, and military expenditure. Both Russia and Ukraine exhibited extreme values across all categories, driven by full-scale combat operations and collapsing civil order.
Global Peace Crumbles Under Strain
While Iceland retained its top spot, as it has every year since the index’s creation in 2007, broader global trends are grim. According to the Institute’s findings, worldwide peacefulness has declined by over 6% since 2008. More than 97 countries experienced deteriorations in peace this year, including democratic societies once viewed as stable.
Other countries ranked among the most peaceful include Ireland and Austria, while the bottom 10 includes Yemen, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Sudan, Mali, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—regions ravaged by armed insurgencies, collapsed governance, or foreign intervention.
What the Index Tells Us Now
The GPI’s methodology incorporates data from the Economist Intelligence Unit, Uppsala Conflict Data Program, and the United Nations. It is frequently cited by international policymakers, but it has also drawn criticism for omitting categories such as gender-based violence or press freedom, limiting its scope in assessing civilian safety comprehensively.
Still, the GPI remains the world’s leading metric of national tranquility. This year’s findings offer a dire reflection of the current geopolitical landscape—where the balance of power is increasingly shaped by conflict rather than diplomacy.
For Ukraine and Russia, bottom placement is no surprise—but the symbolic blow adds to mounting pressure on both regimes to shift strategies or face further isolation in an increasingly divided world.
