World ranks Portugal as the 7th safest country to reside in.
Unleashing the 2025 Global Peace Index:
It's no secret that the world's tranquility has taken a hit, according to the annual report by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). 'Twere a sight for sore eyes to behold Portugal snag the 9th spot, escalating from its 10th position in the previous year. This ascension is a testament to Portugal's persistent efforts in peaceful social development and internal security.
Portugal bagged a total score of 1,371, lagging behind only eight nations. Iceland claimed the top spot, maintaining its reign from 2024. Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Denmark, Slovenia, and Finland respectively occupied the 2nd to 10th places.
New Zealand made a notable leap, advancing two places, while Denmark and Finland rose by one spot each. Austria slipped one place, and Singapore remained steadfast in its position.
Regrettably, the Global Peace Index 2025 concluded with Russia at the bottom of the barrel, followed by Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
This 19th edition of the GPI scrutinized 163 independent states and territories, covering 99.7% of the world's population, confirming that the state of global peace continues to plummet. The report pinpointed the surge in ongoing conflicts, enhanced militarization, and escalating geopolitical tensions as key culprits.
As more nations ramp up their military budgets amidst weakened traditional alliances and economic uncertainty, over half the globe saw a decline in peacefulness, with 87 countries witnessing a downfall compared to 74 that saw an improvement.
To illustrate, conflict resolution remains elusive, with only 9% of conflicts ending in a military victory, and merely 4% settled through negotiations, fueling persistent instability worldwide.
Looking at the countries at the bottom of the ranking, Russia topped the list as the least peaceful nation, a reflection of its ongoing conflicts. Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Yemen round off this grim list, each grappling with internal or international conflicts and instability.
In a nutshell, the 2025 GPI's decline can be attributed to the increase in global conflicts, militarization, and geopolitical tensions, with Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Yemen leading the pack as the least peaceful countries on the planet.
In light of the Global Peace Index 2025, Portugal's progress in peace and security was evident, as it climbed from the 10th position in 2024 to the 9th spot this year. However, the report highlighted that Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, and Afghanistan were among the least peaceful countries, with their ongoing conflicts contributing to the overall decline in global peace.
