KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Afghanistan has been ranked the seventh least peaceful country in the world in the 2026 Global Peace Index, underscoring persistent insecurity despite Taliban claims of nationwide stability.
The Global Peace Index 2026, published Thursday by the Institute for Economics and Peace, placed Afghanistan 157th out of 163 countries. The ranking makes it the least peaceful nation in South Asia and one of the lowest globally.
Countries with similarly poor scores include South Sudan, Israel, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Russia, all grappling with active conflicts, according to the index.
Within South Asia, Bhutan led as the most peaceful country, followed by Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the regional standings for another year.
The report recorded a modest 1.5% improvement in Afghanistan’s safety and security domain. The political instability indicator improved by 10%, largely reflecting the Taliban’s further consolidation of power since taking control, the absence of organized political opposition, and the suppression of dissent, the report said.
However, the index warned that exclusionary governance, continued international isolation, and restrictions on political participation could undermine the country’s longer-term stability.
The ongoing conflict domain deteriorated by 1.9%, with the indicator for deaths from external conflict rising sharply by 19.2%, primarily due to cross-border clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces.
Afghanistan has ranked among the world’s least peaceful countries for years, driven by decades of war, repeated political upheaval, the Taliban’s long insurgency, and recurrent armed violence. The index said cross-border tensions with Pakistan were a key driver of instability over the past year.
Iceland, New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Ireland ranked as the world’s most peaceful countries this year, benefiting from strong political stability, economic resilience, and social cohesion.
Globally, the 2026 report found that 99 countries experienced a deterioration in peace over the past year, the highest number since the index was first published 20 years ago. It said 119 countries, or 73%, are now less peaceful than in 2007, when the Global Peace Index was first released, pointing to a broader decline in international security.
The Global Peace Index measures peacefulness using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators across three key domains: societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization.
The findings contrast with Taliban claims that security has stabilized across Afghanistan, with the index highlighting continuing insecurity alongside significant political and economic challenges.
