Global Peace Index- 2011

The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2011 Report, which was published by the Institute for Economics and Peace on 25th May 2011, stated that Nepal has been ranked in 95th place, 13 ranks and 18th ranks lower than its 2010 and 2009 positions respectively. The report presents Bhutan as most peaceful nation in South Asia after Bangladesh.

In 2010, Nepal was most peaceful nation in South Asia after Bhutan but 2011 findings, which involve 153 countries, placed the country in third place in the region. Neighboring Bangladesh has been ranked in 83rd place while Bhutan further improved its status in 2011 with 34th position in that order.

Bhutan’s place was 36th and Bangladesh was at 87th in the 2010 survey which ranked only 149 countries.

Now in its fifth year, the GPI measures the relative peacefulness of 153 countries by looking at both qualitative and quantitative indicators that combine 23 internal and external factors determining a nation's peacefulness. These include arms imports and exports, violent crime, battlefield deaths, prison populations, potential for terrorism, political stability and the likelihood of violent demonstrations.

According to the report, Nepal scored 4.5 of 5 points in 2011 at the level of disrespect for human rights. Nepal secured only 36.38/100 score for the press freedom against 35.63/100 in 2010.

According to 2011 report, life expectancy in Nepal has remained unchanged as of 66.69 years in 2010. Consequently, Nepal’s infant mortality rate has been also decreased to 38.6 from 40.84 per thousand live births of 2010.

The findings of the other indicators including the civil liberties (5.59/10), potential for terrorist act (3/5), political democracy index (4.24/10), functioning of government (4.29/10), political instability (4/5), relation with neighboring countries (2/5), corruption perceptions (2.2/10) hostility to foreigners (3/4), gender inequality (0.61%) and unemployment rate (15%) remained unchanged from the previous year.

According to the report, Pakistan was ranked as the world’s eighth most unstable country, better than only Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Congo and DPR Korea, Russian Federation and Sudan. The main countries experiencing decreases in peacefulness in South Asia were India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. India was ranked 135th, Sri Lanka 1263rd, Pakistan 145th, and Afghanistan 150th.

The 2011 Index dramatically reflects the impact on national rankings of the Arab Spring. Libya (143) saw the most significant drop – falling 83 places; Bahrain (123) dropped by 51 places – the second largest margin; while Egypt (73) dropped 24 places.

According to 2011 report, Iceland (1.148) is the world’s most peaceful nation, followed by New Zealand (1.279), Japan (1.287), Denmark (1.289) and the Czech Republic (1.320). In 2010, New Zealand (1.188) had snagged the top spot, earning the title of most peaceful nation in the world for the second consecutive year, followed by Iceland (1.212) and Japan (1.247).

According to report, United States is ranked at 82nd place, falling behind China (80) and Egypt (73). Iraq (152) moved from the bottom of the Index for the first time ever.

The threat of terrorist attacks and the likelihood of violent demonstrations were the two leading factors making the world less peaceful in 2011, the report says.

If the world had been 25% more peaceful over the past year the global economy would have reaped an additional economic benefit of just over US$2 trillion. This amount would pay for the 2% of global GDP per annum investment estimated by the Stern Review to avoid the worst effects of climate change, cover the cost of achieving the Millennium Development Goals, eliminate the public debt of Greece, Portugal and Ireland, and address the one-off rebuilding costs of the most expensive natural disaster in history – the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Key Findings

• The world is less peaceful for the third straight year.

• Due to an increased threat of terrorist attacks in 29 nations.

• A greater likelihood of violent demonstrations in 33 countries.

• Arab Spring unrest heralds biggest ever change in rankings, Libya tumbles 83 spots.

• Iceland bounces back from economic woes to top ranking.

• Somalia displaces Iraq as world’s least peaceful nation.

• Violence cost the global economy more than $8.12 trillion in 2010.

• US peacefulness shows minimal change.