The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) published its 19^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 deteriorated for the thirteenth time during the past seventeen years. According to the report, 74 nations witnessed some progress in their GPI scores, while 87 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 1.095 and a state of peace labeled as “very high”. Ireland ranked second in the 2025 GPI (score: 1.260; state of peace: very high), followed by New Zealand (score: 1.282; state of peace: very high), Austria (score: 1.294; state of peace: very high), and Switzerland (score: 1.294; 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 2024 at $20.0 trillion in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms (up from $19.1 trillion in 2023), the equivalent of 11.6% of world GDP and $2,446 per capita. It is worth noting that the economic impact of violence takes into account the direct and indirect costs of violence as well an economic multiplier applied to direct costs.

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 tenth year in a row, with its Global Peace Index score regressing in 2025 by around 0.17% in 2025. According to the report, Qatar emerged as the most peaceful country in the region and occupied the 27^th place internationally (score: 1.593; state of peace: high), followed by Kuwait (global rank: 31; score: 1.642; state of peace: high), Oman (global rank: 42; score: 1.738; state of peace: high), and the U.A.E. (global rank: 52; score: 1.812; state of peace: high), among others.

Locally, Lebanon ranked 136^th in the world and 13^th in the MENA region in the 2025 Global Peace Index with a global score of 2.674 (bettering last year’s score of 2.693) and a “low” state of peace classification. The report commented that the escalation of the conflict with Israel in late 2024 has increased the strain on the Lebanese economy, yet unveiled that the country has restored its ties with Saudi Arabia.