Nigeria rated as the 16th least peaceful nation on earth in latest Global Peace Index survey

NIGERIA has been rated as the 16th least peaceful nation on earth according to a recent Global Peace Index (GPI)  survey published by the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) that placed Nigeria at 16 out of a total of 163 countries surveyed.

According to the report, Iceland is the most peaceful country, closely followed by New Zealand and Austria while Syria is ranked least peaceful, coming after Afghanistan and South Sudan respectively. In Sub-Sahara Africa, Nigeria is ranked 40 out of 44 countries, with Mauritius topping the list as the most peaceful nation, while South Sudan is ranked the least peaceful African nation.

Overall, the global level of peace was reported to have deteriorated by 0.27% in the last year, marking the fourth successive year of deterioration. In addition, the report also said that the world is less peaceful today than at any time in the last decade.

Furthermore, the report added that 92 countries deteriorated, while only 71 improved. Nigeria is one of such countries, up one place from its 2017 ranking of 149.

GPI's report covers 99.7% of the world’s population and uses 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources to compile the index. These indicators are grouped into three key domains, which include ongoing conflict, safety and security and militarisation.

Steve Killelea, the head of the IEP, said:  “There’s been a gradual decline in peacefulness over the last decade. The reason for this slow, gradual decline in peacefulness really comes back to the conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa and the spillover effects into other areas.”