The world may have gotten less peaceful in 2019, but Germany as a country managed to improve its ranking. Since slipping five places to 21st in the world last year, over the past 12 months Germany has become more peaceful and risen to 18th place.

The Global Peace Index

Every year the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) ranks more than 160 countries around the world according to how peaceful they are. The IEP ranks the countries on criteria such as war, terrorism, violence by police and arms exports. This year, the IEP also added an extra criterion: the analysis of the potential impact of the coronavirus pandemic on world peace.

Over the past twelve years, since the ranking was established in 2007, nine have seen a decline in peaceful conditions. Unfortunately, 2019 was one of those nine years. According to the report, “The world is considerably less peaceful than it was in 2018.” This is down to an increased number of deaths from terrorism and conflict, as well as an increase in violent riots.

The effect of the coronavirus pandemic on peace

Experts think that the coronavirus pandemic is likely to worsen the conditions for peace. “The IEP identifies the economic impact of lockdowns as a major threat to peace,” said the report. Essentially, the IEP expects cuts to development aid and funding for UN peacekeeping missions, which could have a knock-on effect and cause problems in vulnerable or conflict-affected countries such as Liberia, Afghanistan and South Sudan.

There is also a risk of economic instability causing political problems, unrest and violence in countries such as Brazil, the US and Argentina. The only positive side of the coronavirus pandemic is that proxy wars could be more difficult to finance.

Germany becomes more peaceful

Germany has risen six places from last year and now sits in 16th place in this year’s ranking. According to the founder of the IEP, Steve Killelea, the improvement in Germany is largely down to a reduction in arms exports as well as a decrease in homicides and terrorist incidents.

The top 20 most peaceful countries are as follows:

1. Iceland
2. New Zealand
3. Portugal
4. Austria
5. Denmark
6. Canada
7. Singapore
8. Czechia
9. Japan
10. Switzerland
11. Slovenia
12. Ireland
13. Australia
14. Finland
15. Sweden
16. Germany
17. Belgium
18. Norway
19. Bhutan
20. Malaysia

For more information and the full ranking, you can check out the Global Peace Index 2020 website.