By Priyanka Roshan | December 20, 2025
Global stability worsened sharply in 2025 as conflicts intensified worldwide. The latest Global Peace Index highlights unprecedented levels of violence, marking the most fragile global security environment since World War II.
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Released by the Institute for Economics & Peace, the index tracks 163 countries across conflict, security and militarisation indicators, revealing ten nations where war, governance failures and humanitarian crises dominate daily life.
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Mali remains trapped in jihadist violence and political instability. Military rule, worsening human rights and the withdrawal of peacekeepers have weakened security, deepening the Sahel region’s broader instability.
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Israel’s ranking deteriorated sharply after the Hamas war escalated regional tensions. High casualties, intense military operations and soaring defence spending drove the steepest global decline in military expenditure indicators.
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South Sudan faces persistent internal divisions and institutional collapse. External interference, weak governance and eroding public trust continue to fuel displacement, violence and elevated risks of renewed large-scale conflict.
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Despite political changes in late 2024, Syria remains deeply unstable. Border clashes, fragmented control and overwhelming humanitarian needs prevent meaningful recovery after more than a decade of civil war.
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Afghanistan records the world’s worst Safety and Security score. Political repression, extremist violence, restricted civil liberties and limited access to justice continue to define daily life nationwide.
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Years of civil war keep Yemen locked in crisis. Although international fighting has slowed, domestic conflict, political fragmentation and poverty persist, leaving millions displaced and basic services under severe strain.
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The DRC remains engulfed in violence driven by armed groups, ethnic tensions and foreign involvement. Rising conflict deaths and mass displacement underscore its worsening humanitarian emergency.
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Sudan’s civil war between rival military forces continues unabated. Thousands were killed in 2024 alone, while humanitarian agencies face restricted access amid widespread lawlessness and displacement.
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Ongoing war with Russia keeps Ukraine among the least peaceful nations. Beyond frontline fighting, organised crime, arms trafficking and domestic violence surged amid prolonged insecurity.
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Russia ranks least peaceful globally for the first time. The Ukraine war, internal unrest and rising militarisation intensified after combat spilled onto Russian territory in 2024, sharply worsening security.
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