The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) published its 14^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 worsened for the ninth time during the past twelve years. It noted that the dissipation of conflicts and crises of the past decade were replaced by the COVID-19 pandemic which brought with it a set of new tensions and uncertainties. According to the report, 81 nations witnessed some progress in their GPI scores, while 80 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 1.078 and a state of peace labeled as “very high”. New Zealand ranked second in the 2020 GPI (score: 1.198; state of peace: very high), followed by Portugal (score: 1.247; state of peace: very high), Austria (score: 1.275; state of peace: very high), and Denmark (score: 1.283; 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 2019 at $14.5 trillion in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, the equivalent of 10.6% of world GDP and $1,909 per capita.

On a regional basis, the report indicated that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remained the world’s least peaceful region for the sixth year in a row and saw a deterioration on the safety & security front as a result of the rise in political instability and in violent demonstrations. Qatar was the most peaceful country in the region and occupied the 27^th place internationally (score: 1.616; state of peace: high), followed by Kuwait (global rank: 39; score: 1.723; state of peace: high), the United Arab Emirates (global rank: 41; score: 1.752; state of peace: high), and Oman (global rank: 68; score: 1.941; state of peace: medium), among others.

Locally, Lebanon ranked 146^th in the world and 14^th in the MENA region in the 2020 Global Peace Index with a global score of 2.828 and a “low” state of peace. The report estimated the economic impact of violence in Lebanon at $7.04 billion, with the economic cost of violence accounting for 8% of the country’s GDP.