Ghana has dropped to 61st place across 163 countries in the latest edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI), marking a noticeable decline in its standing as one of Africa’s most peaceful nations.
The report, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), raises eyebrows about the country’s internal stability and security trajectory.
The latest ranking follows a downward trajectory from 55th in 2024, 51st in 2023, and 40th in 2022.
The Global Peace Index, measures the peacefulness of nations based on 23 indicators across three broad domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarisation.
Ghana’s latest position places it behind several other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, continuing a trend that saw it lose its previous status as the second most peaceful country in the region.
Mauritius, Madagascar, and Botswana all rank ahead of Ghana, with Botswana currently sitting at 43rd globally.
However, Ghana ranks ahead of several of its West African neighbors, including Senegal (69th), Liberia (70th), and Nigeria (148th), reinforcing its image as a relatively stable democracy in a turbulent region.
The steady slide in rankings raises concern over growing political tensions, public safety challenges, and the impact of socio-economic pressures.
Globally, Iceland tops the list as the most peaceful country, followed by Ireland and New Zealand. At the other end of the spectrum, Russia, Ukraine, and Sudan are the least peaceful, reflecting the effects of protracted conflict and geopolitical instability.
Global Peace Index Report
The Global Peace Index evaluates 163 countries based on their peacefulness, encompassing 99.7% of the world’s population.
How the GPI Measures Peace
The GPI assesses countries across three key domains:
Societal Safety and Security
Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict
Militarization
These factors are evaluated using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators.
Africa and Global Peace Trends
On the broader African continent, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remains the least peaceful globally.
Four of the ten least peaceful countries in the world are located in this region, with Sudan and Yemen ranking as the two least peaceful.
The 2025 GPI report shows a global decline in peace over the past 18 years. Political instability, rising conflict-related deaths, and violent demonstrations have contributed to this trend.
However, the report also notes a positive development—a stronger commitment to UN peacekeeping efforts, which recorded the most significant improvement among GPI indicators.
