The index is released by IEP (Institute of Economics and Peace) and is based on data collected and collated by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
The index ranks 163 countries based on the relative position of nation and regions peacefulness.
The broad parameters used for measuring the index includes,
Level of societal safety and security
Extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict
Degree of militarization.
The index was first released in May 2007. Over the past decade, the GPI has presented trends of increasing global violence and less peacefulness around the world due to widening impact of terrorism, deterioration of global peace, growing refugee crisis and growing inequality in peace between the most and least peaceful countries.
The index has been criticized for not including indicators specifically related to violence against women and children.
India’s rank has slipped five places to 141 among 163 countries on the Global Peace Index 2019, while Iceland remains the most peaceful country and Afghanistan the least peaceful nation.
