Reports & Indexes

Global Peace Index 2026: Iceland Tops for 19th Year, India Slips to 127th

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Thursday, 9 July 2026 2 min readSource: The Indian ExpressArticle 11 of 20

The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), ranked Iceland as the world's most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year. Iceland was followed by New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia and Ireland at the top of the list. India slipped to 127th place out of 163 countries, down from 115th in 2025, as its overall peacefulness score deteriorated by about 2.9 per cent compared with the previous year. At the other end of the table, Russia was ranked the least peaceful country in the world for the first time, followed by Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine and Israel. The index measures peacefulness across indicators of ongoing conflict, societal safety and security, and militarisation.

Key Facts & Details

9 points

1
The Global Peace Index 2026 is published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
2
Iceland retained the top spot as the world's most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year.
3
Iceland was followed by New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia and Ireland among the most peaceful nations.
4
India dropped to 127th out of 163 countries, down from 115th in 2025, with its score worsening by about 2.9 per cent.
5
Russia was ranked the least peaceful country for the first time, followed by Sudan, DR Congo, Ukraine and Israel.
6
The index assesses peace through indicators of ongoing conflict, safety and security, and militarisation.

Deep Dive

+
Iceland's sustained lead is linked to the absence of a standing military, very low crime rates and strong social cohesion.
+
India's decline of 12 places from 2025 reflects a fall in its overall peacefulness score.
+
The bottom of the ranking is dominated by countries facing active conflicts, with Russia newly at the base.

Exam Focus

Which body publishes the GPI, the most peaceful country and its streak, India's 2026 rank, and the least peaceful country.

Exam Relevance & Angle

Global indices are among the most frequently asked reports and rankings questions. Examiners specifically test the publisher (IEP), the topper (Iceland, 19th year), and India's exact rank (127th of 163), so precise recall of these figures is directly rewarded.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POSSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

The Global Peace Index is produced annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, an independent think tank headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and has been released since 2007. It ranks countries and territories using indicators grouped into three domains: the level of societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarisation. A lower score denotes a more peaceful nation. The index is widely cited in policy and academic discussions on conflict, and India's position on it tends to be pulled down by internal security challenges and regional tensions rather than by involvement in major inter-state wars.