Singapore clinches highest rank among all Asian nations in 2023 Global Peace Index

SINGAPORE: Singapore has climbed four spots to secure the sixth position in the latest Global Peace Index (GPI) rankings, becoming the highest-ranking Asian country in the annual rankings. This marks the third consecutive year of Singapore’s steady rise in the Index, published by the Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) think tank.

The GPI evaluates various indicators related to peace, encompassing violence levels, conflict, militarization, and societal safety and security.

The rankings reveal a dominance of Europe and Asia in the rankings of the most peaceful countries. Iceland has held the top spot since the index’s inception 16 years ago and is followed by Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, and Austria. Singapore joins Portugal, Slovenia, Japan, and Switzerland in rounding off the top 10 nations in terms of peace.

Interestingly, all countries within the top 10, with the exception of Ireland, have consistently maintained their positions over time, highlighting their enduring commitment to peace.

Despite Iceland’s enviable record, its overall score deteriorated this year due to an increase in murders and the first recorded alleged terrorist activity in the country’s history. IEP’s report mentions the arrest and charging of four individuals involved in plotting terrorist attacks against the Icelandic parliament and prominent politicians.

Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, and Croatia also achieved a “very high” ranking, narrowly missing out on the top 10. Europe, as a whole, remains the most peaceful region globally. However, the conflict in Ukraine has had a negative impact on political stability, relations with neighbouring countries, and external conflict in the region.

In terms of Europe’s level of peacefulness, three out of five countries with the largest deterioration share a border with Ukraine, according to the IEP report.

Turkey, on the other hand, is identified as the least peaceful country in Europe, primarily due to its incarceration rate and deaths from external conflict. Turkey has deployed troops in neighbouring Iraq and Syria, where it claims to be combating the presence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is considered a terrorist group by Turkey and the EU.

In North America, Canada outperformed the United States, securing an overall ranking of 11 compared to the U.S.’s 131. In the Russia and Eurasia region, Moldova emerged as the most peaceful country, while Russia ranked last, experiencing its lowest levels of peacefulness since 2008.

Afghanistan has been ranked the world’s least peaceful country for the eighth consecutive year. Meanwhile, the Middle East and North Africa retain the title of the least peaceful region globally. However, the region recorded the largest improvement, largely attributable to a reduction in terrorism and ongoing conflicts.