Afghanistan Remains Among World's Least Peaceful Countries, Says IEP

Afghanistan has been ranked 158th out of 163 countries in the 2025 Global Peace Index, placing it among the world's least peaceful nations. Despite a reduction in active conflict since the Taliban regained power, weak governance, political instability, and ongoing humanitarian crises continue to exacerbate unrest.

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), which produces the annual Global Peace Index, evaluates countries based on factors such as internal security, levels of conflict, access to small arms, political stability, and military expenditure. Afghanistan moved up two places from last year's ranking of 160th, yet it remains highly volatile.

The report highlights Afghanistan as the fifth country globally where peace is effectively absent. It is the only South Asian country to receive the lowest possible scores for violent crime, access to small arms, political terror, refugee and internally displaced populations, and military costs.

Following Afghanistan, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Ukraine are listed among the most insecure nations worldwide. For the first time, Russia has also been included among the“least peaceful” countries, reflecting global trends in political unrest and conflict escalation.

By contrast, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland rank as the most peaceful nations. Overall, the findings show that global peace continues to decline, with 59 active state-level conflicts recorded over the past year-the highest since the end of World War II.

Regionally, Western and Central Europe remain the most stable and peaceful areas, while the Middle East and North Africa continue to face significant insecurity. Afghanistan's ongoing humanitarian challenges and governance weaknesses underline the urgent need for international support and targeted conflict-resolution strategies.

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