Qatar has emerged as the second most peaceful country in the Middle East and North Africa region, according to the 2024 Global Peace Index. The country has been ranked 29th out of 163 countries, covering almost 99.7% of the world’s population. Kuwait, on the other hand, takes the lead in the MENA region with a score of 1.622, while Qatar follows closely behind with a score of 1.656. Oman, UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia have also been ranked on the index at 53rd, 81st, and 102nd respectively.
The Global Peace Index (GPI) uses 23 indicators to measure peace across three domains: Societal Safety and Security, Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and Militarization. Iceland, Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia, and Malaysia are the top ten most peaceful countries in the world this year. Europe dominates the top ten list, with eight countries making the cut, while Asia contributes two to the list.
According to the report, Europe remains the most peaceful region in the world, with the Middle East and North Africa region being the least peaceful region. The report also highlights a global deterioration in peacefulness, with 65 countries improving and 97 deteriorating in peacefulness. This marks the highest number of countries to deteriorate in peacefulness in a single year since the inception of the index in 2008. The conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine are cited as primary drivers of the fall in peacefulness.
Yemen has been ranked as the least peaceful country in the world in the 2024 GPI, followed by Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. This is the first year that Yemen has held this position, falling 24 places in the rankings since the inception of the index. The conflict in Gaza has had a significant impact on global peacefulness, with Israel and Palestine showing the first and fourth largest deteriorations in peacefulness respectively. Ecuador, Gabon, and Haiti are also among the countries with the largest deteriorations in peacefulness.
North America has recorded the largest regional deterioration in peacefulness in the GPI, with both Canada and the US experiencing significant falls in peacefulness. This deterioration is attributed to increases in violent crime and perceptions of criminality. Despite the global challenges to peace, Qatar’s high ranking in the MENA region demonstrates its commitment to fostering peace and stability within its borders.
