Netherlands 17th on Global Peace Index in an increasingly unsafe world
The Netherlands is ranked 17th in this year’s Global Peace Index by the Institute for Economics and Peace - a position it has hovered around for years. The institute describes the Netherlands as an “established middle power” with relatively significant influence due to its position in the European Union and international economic and diplomatic networks.
The researchers point out that the world has become less peaceful for the 12th consecutive year. There are currently 61 active conflicts between states, the highest number since the end of the Second World War. 103 countries are currently involved in an external conflict, nearly twice as many as in 2008.
Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world, followed by New Zealand and Switzerland, according to the report that annually ranks the level of peace and security in 163 independent countries and territories. The index is based on 23 indicators, including security, conflict, and militarization.
A lower score means more peace in a country. Like last year, Russia is the least peaceful country in the world. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan are also at the bottom of the ranking. The United States is in 134th place.
According to the report, the record number of conflicts is causing massive economic consequences worldwide. The researchers estimate the economic damage at nearly €19 trillion, over 10 percent of the global GDP.
The researchers attribute the increase in conflicts partly to the relations between countries changing. European great powers like Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom are losing relative influence, while middle powers - countries that aren’t superpowers but can exert influence through their economy, diplomatic contacts, or military position - are becoming more powerful.
This shift makes it more difficult to resolve conflicts. When more countries hold power, it becomes harder to reach international agreements or peace accords.
The way of waging war is also changing, particularly due to drones and artificial intelligence, the researchers said. The number of drone attacks increased by a massive 11,500 percent between 2018 and 2025. Military AI procurement is expanding rapidly, and multi-domain warfare at machine speed is increasingly common. At the same time, international rules to regulate this development are still virtually non-existent.
