Why in News?

The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026, released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) on 9 June 2026, has reported that global peacefulness has declined to its lowest level since the index was first launched in 2007. The report highlights the growing impact of geopolitical conflicts, military modernization, drone warfare, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled targeting systems and increasing economic costs of violence.

India was ranked 115th among 163 countries with a score of 2.229, while Iceland retained its position as the world's most peaceful country for the nineteenth consecutive year.

What is the Global Peace Index?

The Global Peace Index is the world's leading measure of peacefulness.

Publisher: Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), Sydney, Australia.

Coverage: 163 independent states and territories, representing over 99% of the world's population.

Methodology

The index is based on 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators grouped into three broad domains:

1. Societal Safety and Security
2. Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict
3. Degree of Militarisation

A lower score indicates a more peaceful country.

Major Findings of GPI 2026

1. Global Peace at Historic Low

The report notes that global peacefulness has deteriorated continuously over the last decade. The number of countries experiencing conflict has increased sharply, reflecting an increasingly unstable international order.

2. Surge in External Conflicts

The number of countries involved in external conflicts increased from 59 in 2008 to 103 in 2026, indicating a near doubling of interstate tensions.

This rise is linked to:

• Russia–Ukraine conflict
• Israel–West Asia tensions
• African civil wars
• Growing geopolitical rivalries in the Indo-Pacific

3. Emergence of AI-driven Warfare

One of the most significant observations of the report is the rapid militarisation of Artificial Intelligence.

Key trends include:

• Drone attacks increased by more than 11,500% between 2018 and 2025.
• AI-enabled targeting systems reduced human decision-making time from several hours to mere seconds.
• Autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons are increasingly becoming part of military operations.

This marks a transformation in the nature of warfare from manpower-intensive conflicts to technology-driven engagements.

4. Economic Cost of Violence

The global economic impact of violence reached US$ 21.81 trillion, representing approximately 10.5% of global GDP.

The costs include:

• Military expenditure
• Internal security spending
• Infrastructure destruction
• Refugee and humanitarian crises
• Productivity losses

The report highlights that resources spent on violence could otherwise be directed towards education, healthcare and sustainable development.

Global Rankings: Best and Worst Performers

Most Peaceful Countries

Rank Country

1 Iceland

2 New Zealand

3 Switzerland

4 Slovenia

5 Ireland

Iceland continues to maintain extremely low levels of militarisation, crime and political instability.

Least Peaceful Countries

For the first time, Russia ranked at the bottom of the index due to prolonged war involvement and heightened militarisation.

India's Performance in GPI 2026

Rank

115th out of 163 countries.

Score

2.229

Key Factors Influencing India's Ranking

Positive Factors:

• Stable democratic institutions.
• Improved law-and-order mechanisms.
• Enhanced counter-terrorism capabilities.
• Strong economic growth.

Challenges:

• Border security concerns.
• Regional geopolitical tensions.
• Internal security challenges in certain regions.
• Defence modernisation leading to higher military expenditure.

Regional Context

South Asia witnessed the steepest deterioration in peace during the year. Political instability, internal unrest and security challenges across neighbouring countries significantly impacted the region's overall performance.

Implications for India

Strategic Implications

The increasing use of AI-enabled warfare demonstrates the need for India to accelerate:

• Defence AI programs
• Drone technology development
• Cyber-security capabilities
• Space-based surveillance systems

Economic Implications

Peace is directly linked to economic development. Lower levels of violence improve:

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
• Tourism
• Trade and logistics
• Human capital development

Diplomatic Implications

India's emphasis on:

• "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"
• Multilateral cooperation
• Counter-terrorism initiatives
• Global South leadership

can contribute positively towards regional peace and stability.

Way Forward

The GPI 2026 highlights that future conflicts will increasingly be shaped by emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, autonomous weapons, drones and cyber warfare.

India must strengthen its internal security architecture while promoting regional cooperation and peaceful dispute resolution. Simultaneously, investments in technological innovation and responsible AI governance will be crucial to addressing evolving security challenges.

India's Rank in Important Global Indices (2026)