The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) released the Global Peace Index (GPI), offering a comprehensive analysis of global peacefulness trends. India, as the most populous country in the world took the 126th position out of 163 countries.

According to the report, India witnessed an improvement of 3.5 percent in overall peacefulness over the past year owing “to improvements in violent crime, neighbouring countries relations and political instability.”

The report stated that improved relations with neighbouring countries played a significant role in boosting its peace ranking. In 2022, there were fewer incidents of cross-border violence and ceasefire violations with both Pakistan and China, contributing to enhanced regional harmony.

The report also highlighted that “the reduction in geopolitical tensions with China owing to the reduction in border incidents, as well as less social unrest, more generally, led to an improvement on the political instability indicator.”

While India’s current ranking in the GPI indicates progress, the report emphasizes the importance of continued efforts to address societal safety and security concerns, ongoing conflicts, and the degree of militarization within the country.

The report curated by the Institute covers 99.7 percent of the world's population, employing 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from reputable sources to assess peace across three domains: Societal Safety and Security, Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and Militarization.

Iceland took the top spot for the 15th year in a row followed by Denmark and Ireland. Afghanistan was placed last on the list.