Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ Sri Lanka has achieved a significant improvement in global peace rankings, emerging as the second most peaceful nation in South Asia according to the latest Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026 published by the Institute for Economics and Peace. The country climbed to 67th place globally with an overall score of 1.91, marking a major leap from its 97th position in 2025. Within South Asia, only Bhutan ranked higher, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s growing reputation as one of the region’s more stable and peaceful nations. The Global Peace Index evaluates 163 countries and territories each year, measuring levels of peace through indicators such as public safety, political stability, internal and external conflicts, crime rates, terrorism, and military activity.
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Sri Lanka recorded the strongest improvement among all South Asian countries in this year’s report. Its overall score improved by 2.3 percent, driven largely by gains in the militarisation category. A notable increase in contributions to United Nations peacekeeping activities also helped strengthen the country’s performance. Improvements in terms of political stability further enhanced Sri Lanka’s ranking, resulting in better scores in the safety and security category. Bhutan remained the region’s top performer, ranking 16th in the world. Although Bhutan experienced a slight decline in its score compared to the previous year, it continues to stand well above the regional average and remains one of the most peaceful countries globally.
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Despite Sri Lanka’s progress, the report paints a concerning picture for South Asia as a whole. The region experienced the sharpest decline in peacefulness among all major regions covered by the index, with average peace levels falling by 2.3 percent. Researchers attributed the decline mainly to rising internal conflicts and increasing tensions between neighbouring countries. Five of the seven countries in South Asia mentioned in the report experienced a decline in their scores, while two countries showed improvement. The report attributed the regional decline to continued conflicts and strained diplomatic relations. India’s ranking dropped to 127th from 124th last year, with a 2.9 percent decrease. The report highlighted rising conflict-related concerns, including growing tensions with neighbouring countries and an increase in deaths linked to internal unrest.
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Pakistan’s situation was even more dire, falling to 152nd worldwide, with the country’s score heavily impacted by rising conflict indicators, including an increase in conflict-related deaths and a decline in relations with neighbours. The report also noted that Pakistan experienced the highest impact from terrorism, with more than 1,100 terrorism-related deaths reported during 2025. Afghanistan was still the least peaceful country in South Asia and was ranked 157th in the world. While its overall score changed only slightly, the report noted ongoing challenges linked to security and instability.
Researchers warned that peace levels worldwide have continued to fall for the twelfth year running. The world currently faces 61 active conflicts involving states, the highest number seen since the end of World War II. More than 100 countries are now involved in external conflicts, almost double the number in 2008. At the top of the global rankings, Iceland held onto its position as the world’s most peaceful country, followed by New Zealand and Switzerland. Russia, meanwhile, was ranked the least peaceful nation, with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan also among the countries at the bottom of the index. Sri Lanka’s better position offers a positive sign amid rising global uncertainty, highlighting the country’s progress in strengthening stability, security and peaceful development.
