The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) published its 13^th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) in which it ranked 163 independent nations and territories based on their level of peacefulness while providing an analysis on peace developments across the globe. In details, the index is calculated based on 23 quantitative and qualitative indicators and evaluates the state of peace according to three main pillars, namely the level of societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization. In this vein, the report revealed that global peace has improved after four consecutive years of deterioration amid the gradual dissipation of some of the tensions, wars, and crises that were enkindled throughout the past decade. This improvement remained, however, limited, mainly constrained by the eruption of new conflicts. According to the report, 86 nations witnessed some progress in their GPI scores, while 76 countries saw a deterioration. More particularly, Iceland emerged as the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008, with a global score of 1.072 and a state of peace labeled as “very high”. New Zealand ranked second in the 2019 GPI (score: 1.221; state of peace: very high), followed by Portugal (score: 1.274; state of peace: very high), Austria (score: 1.291; state of peace: very high), and Denmark (score: 1.316; state of peace: very high), only to name a few. From another standpoint, the IEP estimated the economic impact of violence on the global economy in 2018 at $14.1 trillion in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, the equivalent of 11.2% of world GDP and $1,853 per capita.

On a regional basis, the report indicated that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region reported the second largest leap in the index as violence in Syria began to tone down, leading to a reduction in the number of conflict-related deaths. Despite such encouraging developments, the MENA region remained the world’s least peaceful region for the fifth year in a row. Qatar was the most peaceful country in the region despite the continued embargo imposed by several nations on the country and occupied the 31^st place internationally (score: 1.696; state of peace: high), followed by Kuwait (global rank: 43; score: 1.794; state of peace: high), the United Arab Emirates (global rank: 53; score: 1.847; state of peace: high), and Oman (global rank: 69; score: 1.953; state of peace: high), among others.

Locally, Lebanon ranked 147^th in the world and 14^th in the MENA region in the 2019 Global Peace Index (unchanged from last year), with a global score of 2.800 and a “low” state of peace. The report estimated the economic impact of violence in Lebanon at $12.76 billion, with the economic cost of violence accounting for 8% of the country’s GDP.