Global Peace Index
Encyclopedia
The Global Peace Index (GPI) is an attempt to measure the relative position of nations' and regions' peacefulness. It is the product of Institute for Economics and Peace
(IEP) and developed in consultation with an international panel of peace experts from peace institutes and think tank
s with data collected and collated by the Economist Intelligence Unit
. The list was launched first in May 2007, then continued on May 2008, 2 June 2009, 10 June 2010 and most recently on 25 May 2011. It is claimed to be the first study to rank countries around the world according to their peacefulness. It ranks 153 countries (up from 121 in 2007). The study is the brainchild of Australian entrepreneur Steve Killelea
and is endorsed by individuals such as Kofi Annan
, the Dalai Lama
, archbishop Desmond Tutu
, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari
, Muhammad Yunus
, economist Jeffrey Sachs
, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson
, and former US president Jimmy Carter
. Factors examined by the authors include internal factors such as levels of violence and crime within the country and factors in a country's external relations such as military expenditure and wars.
, EIU for The Economist Intelligence Unit, UNSCT for the United Nations
Survey of Criminal Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems, ICPS is the International Center for Prison Studies at King's College London
, IISS for the International Institute for Strategic Studies
publication The Military Balance 2007, SIPRI for the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Arms Transfers Database, and BICC for the Bonn International Center for Conversion
.
Indicators not already ranked on a 1 to 5 scale were converted by using the following formula: x=(x-Min(x))/(Max(x)-Min(x)) where Max(x) and Min(x) are the highest and lowest values for that indicator of the countries ranked in the index. The 0 to 1 scores that resulted were then converted to the 1 to 5 scale. Individual indicators were then weighted according to the research team's judgment of their importance. The scores were then tabulated into two weighted sub-indices: internal peace, weighted at 60% of a country's final score, and external peace, weighted at 40% of a country's final score.
The main findings of the Global Peace Index are:
Statistical analysis was applied to discover more specific drivers of peace. Specifically, the research team looked for indicators that were included and excluded from the index that had high levels of correlation with the overall score and rank of countries. Among the statistically significant indicators that were not used in the analysis were the functionality of a country's government, regional integration, hostility to foreigners, importance of religion in national life, corruption, freedom of the media and GDP per capita.
Notably absent from the 2007 study are Belarus
, Iceland
, many Africa
n nations, Mongolia
, North Korea
, and Afghanistan
. They were not included because reliable data for the 24 indicators was not available. Most of these countries are included in the 2010 Index, which now ranks 149 countries worldwide.
, in publishing the index, admitted that, "the index will run into some flak." Specifically, according to The Economist, the weighting of military expenditure "may seem to give heart to freeloaders: countries that enjoy peace precisely because others (often the USA) care for their defense." The true utility of the index may lie not in its specific rankings of countries now, but in how those rankings change over time, thus tracking when and how countries become more or less peaceful.
The Peace Index has been criticised for not including indicators specifically relating to violence against women and children. Riane Eisler
, writing in the Christian Science Monitor, argued that, "to put it mildly, this blind spot makes the index very inaccurate." She mentions a number of specific cases, including Egypt
, where she claims 90% of women are subject to genital mutilation
and China
, where, she says, "female infanticide is still a problem," according to a 2000 UNICEF study.
The Index has been widely recognized and is used by a number of organizations and think tanks worldwide including the World Bank
, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD), and Wikiprogress.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs
, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University said: "The GPI continues its pioneering work in drawing the world’s attention to the massive resources we are squandering in violence and conflict. The lives and money wasted in wars, incarcerations, weapons systems, weapons trade, and more, could be directed to ending poverty, promoting education, and protecting the environment. The GPI will not only draw attention to these crucial issues, but help us understand them and to invest productively in a more peaceful world."
The Index has received endorsements from a number of major international figures, including the former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan
, former President of Finland and 2008 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari
, the Dalai Lama
, archbishop Desmond Tutu
, Muhammad Yunus
, and former United States President Jimmy Carter
. Steve Killelea
, the Australian philanthropist who conceived the idea of the Index, argues that the Index "is a wake-up call for leaders around the globe."
Institute for Economics and Peace
The Institute for Economics and Peace , chaired by entrepreneur Steve Killelea, is a global non-profit research organization headquartered in Sydney, Australia with a branch in New York...
(IEP) and developed in consultation with an international panel of peace experts from peace institutes and think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
s with data collected and collated by the Economist Intelligence Unit
Economist Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit is part of the Economist Group.It is a research and advisory company providing country, industry and management analysis worldwide and incorporates the former Business International Corporation, a U.S. company acquired by the parent organization in 1986...
. The list was launched first in May 2007, then continued on May 2008, 2 June 2009, 10 June 2010 and most recently on 25 May 2011. It is claimed to be the first study to rank countries around the world according to their peacefulness. It ranks 153 countries (up from 121 in 2007). The study is the brainchild of Australian entrepreneur Steve Killelea
Steve Killelea
Stephen Killelea AM is an Australian IT entrepreneur. He began his career, after doing a crash course in computing and working for a computer manufacturer, by developing a product for computer systems management that became internationally successful and led him to set up a US company, Software...
and is endorsed by individuals such as Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
, the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
, archbishop Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari is a Finnish politician, the tenth President of Finland , Nobel Peace Prize laureate and United Nations diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work....
, Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi economist and founder of the Grameen Bank, an institution that provides microcredit to help its clients establish creditworthiness and financial self-sufficiency. In 2006 Yunus and Grameen received the Nobel Peace Prize...
, economist Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey David Sachs is an American economist and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. One of the youngest economics professors in the history of Harvard University, Sachs became known for his role as an adviser to Eastern European and developing country governments in the...
, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
, and former US president Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. Factors examined by the authors include internal factors such as levels of violence and crime within the country and factors in a country's external relations such as military expenditure and wars.
Methodology
The research team was headed by The Economist Intelligence Unit in conjunction with academics and experts in the field of peace. They measured countries' peacefulness based on wide range of indicators, 23 in all (originally 24 indicators, but one was dropped in 2008). A table of the indicators is below. In the table, UCDP stands for the Uppsala Conflict Data Program maintained by the University of Uppsala in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, EIU for The Economist Intelligence Unit, UNSCT for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Survey of Criminal Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems, ICPS is the International Center for Prison Studies at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, IISS for the International Institute for Strategic Studies
International Institute for Strategic Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies is a British research institute in the area of international affairs. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict"...
publication The Military Balance 2007, SIPRI for the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Arms Transfers Database, and BICC for the Bonn International Center for Conversion
Bonn International Center for Conversion
The Bonn International Center for Conversion , established in 1994, is a research institute located in Bonn, Germany. While the focus of BICC's work initially centered around the conversion of military facilities and equipment to civilian uses , the institute's research has expanded to other areas...
.
| # | Indicator | Source | Year(s) | Coding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Number of external and internal wars fought | UCDP | 2004 to 2009 | Total number |
| 2 | Estimated deaths due to external wars | UCDP | 2010 | Total number |
| 3 | Estimated deaths due to internal wars | UCDP | 2010 | Total number |
| 4 | Level of organized internal conflict | EIU | 2010 to 2011 | Qualitative scale, ranked 1 to 5 |
| 5 | Relations with neighbouring countries | EIU | 2010 to 2011 | Qualitative scale, ranked 1 to 5 |
| 6 | Level of perceived criminality in society | EIU | 2010 to 2011 | Qualitative scale, ranked 1 to 5 |
| 7 | Number of refugees and displaced persons as percentage of population | UNHCR and IDMC | 2009 to 2010 | Refugee population by percentage of the origin country's population |
| 8 | Political instability | EIU | 2010 to 2011 | Qualitative scale, ranked 1 to 5 |
| 9 | Level of respect for human rights (political terror scale) | Amnesty International | 2009 | Qualitative measure |
| 10 | Potential for terrorist acts | EIU | 2010 to 2011 | Qualitative scale, ranked 1 to 5 |
| 11 | Number of homicides | UNCTS | 2005 to 2009 | Intentional homicides, including infanticide, per 100,000 people |
| 12 | Level of violent crime | EIU | 2010 to 2011 | Qualitative scale, ranked 1 to 5 |
| 13 | Likelihood of violent demonstrations | EIU | 2010 to 2011 | Qualitative scale, ranked 1 to 5 |
| 14 | Number of jailed persons | ICPS | 2010 | Persons incarcerated per 100,000 people |
| 15 | Number of police and security officers | UNCTS | 2008 to 2010 | Civil security officers per 100,000 people |
| 16 | Military expenditure as a percentage of GDP | IISS | 2009 to 2010 | Cash outlays for armed forces, as a percentage of GDP |
| 17 | Number of armed services personnel | IISS | 2010 | Full-time military personnel per 100,000 people |
| 18 | Imports of major conventional weapons | SIPRI | 2009 to 2010 | Imports of major conventional weapons per 100,000 people |
| 19 | Exports of major conventional weapons | SIPRI | 2009 to 2010 | Exports of major conventional weapons per 100,000 people |
| 20 | Funding for UN peacekeeping missions | IEP | 2007 to 2010 | Total number |
| 21 | Number of heavy weapons | IEP | 2009 | Weapons per 100,000 people |
| 22 | Ease of access to small arms and light weapons | EIU | 2010 to 2011 | Qualitative scale, ranked 1 to 5 |
| 23 | Military capability or sophistication | EIU | 2010 to 2011 | Qualitative scale, ranked 1 to 5 |
Indicators not already ranked on a 1 to 5 scale were converted by using the following formula: x=(x-Min(x))/(Max(x)-Min(x)) where Max(x) and Min(x) are the highest and lowest values for that indicator of the countries ranked in the index. The 0 to 1 scores that resulted were then converted to the 1 to 5 scale. Individual indicators were then weighted according to the research team's judgment of their importance. The scores were then tabulated into two weighted sub-indices: internal peace, weighted at 60% of a country's final score, and external peace, weighted at 40% of a country's final score.
The main findings of the Global Peace Index are:
- Peace is correlated to indicators such as income, schooling and the level of regional integration
- Peaceful countries often shared high levels of transparency of government and low corruption
- Small, stable countries which are part of regional blocks are most likely to get a higher ranking.
Statistical analysis was applied to discover more specific drivers of peace. Specifically, the research team looked for indicators that were included and excluded from the index that had high levels of correlation with the overall score and rank of countries. Among the statistically significant indicators that were not used in the analysis were the functionality of a country's government, regional integration, hostility to foreigners, importance of religion in national life, corruption, freedom of the media and GDP per capita.
Notably absent from the 2007 study are Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, many Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n nations, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. They were not included because reliable data for the 24 indicators was not available. Most of these countries are included in the 2010 Index, which now ranks 149 countries worldwide.
Criticism and response to criticism
The EconomistThe Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, in publishing the index, admitted that, "the index will run into some flak." Specifically, according to The Economist, the weighting of military expenditure "may seem to give heart to freeloaders: countries that enjoy peace precisely because others (often the USA) care for their defense." The true utility of the index may lie not in its specific rankings of countries now, but in how those rankings change over time, thus tracking when and how countries become more or less peaceful.
The Peace Index has been criticised for not including indicators specifically relating to violence against women and children. Riane Eisler
Riane Eisler
Riane Tennenhaus Eisler is an Austrian-born American scholar, writer, and social activist. Born in Vienna ca. 1937, her familyfled from the Nazis to Cuba when she was a child; she later emigrated to the United States. She has degrees in...
, writing in the Christian Science Monitor, argued that, "to put it mildly, this blind spot makes the index very inaccurate." She mentions a number of specific cases, including Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, where she claims 90% of women are subject to genital mutilation
Genital mutilation
Genital mutilation can refer to:*Clitoridectomy*Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision*Genital modification and mutilation*Infibulation...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, where, she says, "female infanticide is still a problem," according to a 2000 UNICEF study.
The Index has been widely recognized and is used by a number of organizations and think tanks worldwide including the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
(OECD), and Wikiprogress.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey David Sachs is an American economist and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. One of the youngest economics professors in the history of Harvard University, Sachs became known for his role as an adviser to Eastern European and developing country governments in the...
, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University said: "The GPI continues its pioneering work in drawing the world’s attention to the massive resources we are squandering in violence and conflict. The lives and money wasted in wars, incarcerations, weapons systems, weapons trade, and more, could be directed to ending poverty, promoting education, and protecting the environment. The GPI will not only draw attention to these crucial issues, but help us understand them and to invest productively in a more peaceful world."
The Index has received endorsements from a number of major international figures, including the former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
, former President of Finland and 2008 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari is a Finnish politician, the tenth President of Finland , Nobel Peace Prize laureate and United Nations diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work....
, the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
, archbishop Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
, Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi economist and founder of the Grameen Bank, an institution that provides microcredit to help its clients establish creditworthiness and financial self-sufficiency. In 2006 Yunus and Grameen received the Nobel Peace Prize...
, and former United States President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. Steve Killelea
Steve Killelea
Stephen Killelea AM is an Australian IT entrepreneur. He began his career, after doing a crash course in computing and working for a computer manufacturer, by developing a product for computer systems management that became internationally successful and led him to set up a US company, Software...
, the Australian philanthropist who conceived the idea of the Index, argues that the Index "is a wake-up call for leaders around the globe."
Global Peace Index rankings
Nations considered more peaceful have lower index scores. Countries with rankings in green are in the most peaceful 20% for that year; those in red are in the bottom 20%.| Country | 2011 Rank | 2011 Score | 2010 Rank | 2010 Score | 2009 Rank | 2009 Score | 2008 Rank | 2008 Score | 2007 Rank | 2007 Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Iceland |
1 | 1.148 | 2 | 1.212 | 4 | 1.225 | 1 | 1.176 | ||
 New Zealand |
2 | 1.279 | 1 | 1.188 | 1 | 1.202 | 4 | 1.350 | 2 | 1.363 |
 Japan |
3 | 1.287 | 3 | 1.247 | 7 | 1.272 | 5 | 1.358 | 5 | 1.413 |
 Denmark |
4 | 1.289 | 7 | 1.341 | 2 | 1.217 | 2 | 1.343 | 3 | 1.377 |
 Czech Republic |
5 | 1.320 | 12 | 1.360 | 11 | 1.328 | 17 | 1.501 | 13 | 1.524 |
 Austria |
6 | 1.337 | 4 | 1.290 | 5 | 1.252 | 10 | 1.449 | 10 | 1.483 |
 Luxembourg |
7 | 1.341 | 13 | 1.341 | 9 | 1.446 | ||||
 Finland |
7 | 1.352 | 9 | 1.352 | 9 | 1.322 | 8 | 1.432 | 6 | 1.447 |
 Canada |
8 | 1.355 | 14 | 1.392 | 8 | 1.311 | 11 | 1.451 | 8 | 1.481 |
 Norway |
9 | 1.356 | 5 | 1.322 | 2 | 1.217 | 3 | 1.343 | 1 | 1.357 |
 Slovenia |
10 | 1.358 | 11 | 1.358 | 9 | 1.322 | 16 | 1.491 | 15 | 1.539 |
 Republic of Ireland |
11 | 1.370 | 6 | 1.337 | 12 | 1.333 | 6 | 1.410 | 4 | 1.396 |
 Qatar |
12 | 1.398 | 15 | 1.394 | 16 | 1.392 | 33 | 1.694 | 30 | 1.702 |
 Sweden |
13 | 1.401 | 10 | 1.354 | 6 | 1.269 | 13 | 1.468 | 7 | 1.478 |
 Belgium |
14 | 1.413 | 17 | 1.400 | 15 | 1.359 | 15 | 1.485 | 11 | 1.498 |
 Germany |
15 | 1.416 | 16 | 1.398 | 16 | 1.392 | 14 | 1.475 | 12 | 1.523 |
 Switzerland |
16 | 1.421 | 18 | 1.424 | 18 | 1.393 | 12 | 1.465 | 14 | 1.526 |
 Portugal |
17 | 1.453 | 13 | 1.366 | 14 | 1.348 | 7 | 1.412 | 9 | 1.481 |
 Australia |
18 | 1.455 | 19 | 1.467 | 19 | 1.476 | 27 | 1.652 | 25 | 1.664 |
 Malaysia |
19 | 1.467 | 22 | 1.539 | 26 | 1.561 | 37 | 1.721 | 37 | 1.744 |
 Hungary |
20 | 1.495 | 20 | 1.495 | 27 | 1.575 | 18 | 1.576 | 18 | 1.575 |
 Uruguay |
21 | 1.521 | 24 | 1.568 | 25 | 1.557 | 21 | 1.606 | 24 | 1.661 |
 Poland |
22 | 1.545 | 29 | 1.618 | 32 | 1.599 | 31 | 1.687 | 27 | 1.683 |
 Hong Kong |
23 | 1.608 | 23 | 1.657 | ||||||
 Slovakia |
23 | 1.576 | 21 | 1.536 | 24 | 1.539 | 20 | 1.576 | 17 | 1.571 |
 Singapore |
24 | 1.585 | 30 | 1.624 | 23 | 1.533 | 29 | 1.673 | 29 | 1.692 |
 Netherlands |
25 | 1.628 | 27 | 1.610 | 22 | 1.531 | 22 | 1.607 | 20 | 1.620 |
 United Kingdom |
26 | 1.631 | 31 | 1.631 | 35 | 1.647 | 49 | 1.801 | ||
| 27 | 1.638 | 35 | 1.664 | 37 | 1.652 | 44 | 1.779 | 36 | 1.731 | |
 Spain |
28 | 1.641 | 25 | 1.588 | 28 | 1.577 | 30 | 1.683 | 21 | 1.633 |
 Kuwait |
29 | 1.667 | 39 | 1.693 | 42 | 1.680 | 45 | 1.786 | 46 | 1.818 |
 Vietnam |
30 | 1.670 | 38 | 1.691 | 39 | 1.664 | 37 | 1.720 | 35 | 1.729 |
 Costa Rica |
31 | 1.681 | 26 | 1.590 | 29 | 1.578 | 34 | 1.701 | 31 | 1.702 |
 Laos |
32 | 1.687 | 34 | 1.661 | 45 | 1.701 | 51 | 1.810 | ||
 United Arab Emirates |
33 | 1.690 | 44 | 1.739 | 40 | 1.667 | 42 | 1.745 | 38 | 1.747 |
 Bhutan |
34 | 1.693 | 36 | 1.665 | 40 | 1.667 | 26 | 1.616 | 19 | 1.611 |
 Botswana |
35 | 1.695 | 33 | 1.641 | 34 | 1.643 | 46 | 1.792 | 42 | 1.786 |
 Early Modern France |
36 | 1.697 | 32 | 1.636 | 30 | 1.579 | 36 | 1.707 | 34 | 1.729 |
 Independent State of Croatia |
37 | 1.699 | 41 | 1.707 | 49 | 1.741 | 60 | 1.926 | 67 | 2.030 |
 Chile |
38 | 1.710 | 28 | 1.616 | 20 | 1.481 | 19 | 1.576 | 16 | 1.568 |
 Malawi |
39 | 1.740 | 51 | 1.813 | 47 | 1.711 | 73 | 2.024 | 68 | 2.038 |
 Kingdom of Romania |
40 | 1.742 | 45 | 1.749 | 31 | 1.591 | 24 | 1.611 | 26 | 1.682 |
 Oman |
41 | 1.743 | 23 | 1.561 | 21 | 1.520 | 25 | 1.612 | 22 | 1.641 |
 Ghana |
42 | 1.752 | 48 | 1.781 | 52 | 1.761 | 40 | 1.723 | 40 | 1.765 |
 Lithuania |
43 | 1.760 | 42 | 1.713 | 43 | 1.687 | 41 | 1.723 | 43 | 1.788 |
 Tunisia |
44 | 1.765 | 37 | 1.678 | 44 | 1.698 | 47 | 1.797 | 39 | 1.762 |
 Italy |
45 | 1.775 | 40 | 1.701 | 36 | 1.648 | 28 | 1.653 | 33 | 1.724 |
 Latvia |
46 | 1.793 | 54 | 1.827 | 54 | 1.773 | 39 | 1.723 | 47 | 1.848 |
 Estonia |
47 | 1.798 | 46 | 1.751 | 38 | 1.661 | 35 | 1.702 | 28 | 1.684 |
 Mozambique |
48 | 1.809 | 47 | 1.779 | 53 | 1.765 | 50 | 1.803 | 50 | 1.909 |
 Panama |
49 | 1.812 | 61 | 1.878 | 59 | 1.798 | 48 | 1.797 | 45 | 1.798 |
 South Korea |
50 | 1.829 | 43 | 1.715 | 33 | 1.627 | 32 | 1.691 | 32 | 1.719 |
 Burkina Faso |
51 | 1.832 | 57 | 1.852 | 71 | 1.905 | 81 | 2.062 | ||
 Zambia |
52 | 1.833 | 51 | 1.813 | 58 | 1.779 | 53 | 1.856 | 53 | 1.930 |
 Kingdom of Bulgaria |
53 | 1.845 | 50 | 1.785 | 56 | 1.775 | 57 | 1.903 | 54 | 1.936 |
 Namibia |
54 | 1.850 | 59 | 1.864 | 65 | 1.841 | 77 | 2.042 | 64 | 2.003 |
 Argentina |
55 | 1.852 | 71 | 1.962 | 66 | 1.851 | 56 | 1.895 | 52 | 1.923 |
 Tanzania |
56 | 1.858 | 55 | 1.832 | 59 | 1.796 | 58 | 1.919 | 57 | 1.966 |
 Mongolia |
57 | 1.880 | 92 | 2.101 | 89 | 2.040 | 88 | 2.155 | ||
 Morocco |
58 | 1.887 | 58 | 1.861 | 63 | 1.811 | 63 | 1.954 | 48 | 1.893 |
 Moldova |
59 | 1.892 | 66 | 1.938 | 75 | 1.925 | 83 | 2.091 | 72 | 2.059 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
60 | 1.893 | 60 | 1.873 | 50 | 1.755 | 66 | 1.974 | 75 | 2.089 |
 Sierra Leone |
61 | 1.904 | 53 | 1.818 | ||||||
 The Gambia |
62 | 1.910 | 63 | 1.890 | ||||||
 Albania |
63 | 1.912 | 65 | 1.925 | 75 | 1.925 | 79 | 2.044 | ||
 Jordan |
64 | 1.918 | 68 | 1.948 | 64 | 1.832 | 65 | 1.969 | 63 | 1.997 |
 Greece |
65 | 1.947 | 62 | 1.887 | 57 | 1.778 | 54 | 1.867 | 44 | 1.791 |
 Paraguay |
66 | 1.954 | 77 | 2.019 | 73 | 1.916 | 70 | 1.997 | 55 | 1.946 |
 Cuba |
67 | 1.964 | 72 | 1.964 | 68 | 1.856 | 62 | 1.954 | 59 | 1.968 |
 Indonesia |
68 | 1.979 | 67 | 1.946 | 67 | 1.853 | 68 | 1.983 | 78 | 2.111 |
 Ukraine |
69 | 1.995 | 97 | 2.115 | 82 | 2.010 | 84 | 2.096 | 80 | 2.150 |
 Swaziland |
69 | 1.995 | 73 | 1.966 | ||||||
 Cyprus |
71 | 2.013 | 76 | 2.013 | 48 | 1.737 | 52 | 1.847 | 51 | 1.915 |
 Nicaragua |
72 | 2.021 | 64 | 1.924 | 61 | 1.801 | 59 | 1.919 | 66 | 2.020 |
 Egypt |
73 | 2.023 | 49 | 1.784 | 54 | 1.773 | 69 | 1.987 | 73 | 2.068 |
 Brazil |
74 | 2.040 | 83 | 2.048 | 85 | 2.022 | 90 | 2.168 | 83 | 2.173 |
 Equatorial Guinea |
75 | 2.041 | 68 | 1.948 | 61 | 1.801 | 64 | 1.964 | 71 | 2.059 |
 Bolivia |
76 | 2.045 | 81 | 2.037 | 81 | 1.990 | 78 | 2.043 | 69 | 2.052 |
 Senegal |
77 | 2.047 | 79 | 2.031 | 80 | 1.984 | 71 | 2.011 | 65 | 2.017 |
 Republic of Macedonia |
78 | 2.048 | 83 | 2.048 | 88 | 2.039 | 87 | 2.119 | 82 | 2.170 |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
79 | 2.051 | 94 | 2.107 | 87 | 2.035 | 98 | 2.230 | 94 | 2.286 |
 People's Republic of China |
80 | 2.054 | 80 | 2.034 | 74 | 1.921 | 67 | 1.981 | 60 | 1.980 |
 Gabon |
81 | 2.059 | 74 | 1.981 | 51 | 1.758 | 55 | 1.878 | 56 | 1.952 |
 United States |
82 | 2.063 | 85 | 2.056 | 83 | 2.015 | 97 | 2.227 | 96 | 2.317 |
 Bangladesh |
83 | 2.070 | 87 | 2.058 | 90 | 2.045 | 86 | 2.118 | 86 | 2.219 |
 Serbia |
84 | 2.071 | 90 | 2.071 | 78 | 1.951 | 85 | 2.110 | 84 | 2.181 |
 Peru |
85 | 2.077 | 89 | 2.067 | 79 | 1.972 | 80 | 2.046 | 70 | 2.056 |
 Cameroon |
86 | 2.104 | 106 | 2.210 | 95 | 2.073 | 92 | 2.182 | 76 | 2.093 |
 Angola |
87 | 2.109 | 86 | 2.057 | 100 | 2.105 | 110 | 2.364 | 112 | 2.587 |
 Guyana |
88 | 2.112 | 91 | 2.095 | ||||||
 Kingdom of Montenegro |
89 | 2.113 | ||||||||
 Ecuador |
90 | 2.116 | 101 | 2.185 | 109 | 2.211 | 100 | 2.274 | 87 | 2.219 |
 Dominican Republic |
91 | 2.125 | 93 | 2.103 | 70 | 1.890 | 82 | 2.069 | 74 | 2.071 |
 Guinea |
92 | 2.126 | ||||||||
 Kazakhstan |
93 | 2.137 | 95 | 2.113 | 84 | 2.018 | 72 | 2.018 | 61 | 1.995 |
 Papua New Guinea |
94 | 2.139 | 95 | 2.113 | 93 | 2.059 | 95 | 2.224 | 88 | 2.223 |
 Nepal |
95 | 2.152 | 82 | 2.044 | ||||||
 Liberia |
96 | 2.159 | 99 | 2.148 | ||||||
 Uganda |
96 | 2.159 | 100 | 2.165 | 103 | 2.140 | 114 | 2.391 | 104 | 2.489 |
 Republic of the Congo |
98 | 2.165 | 102 | 2.192 | 106 | 2.202 | 117 | 2.417 | ||
 Rwanda |
99 | 2.185 | 75 | 2.012 | 86 | 2.027 | 76 | 2.030 | ||
 Mali |
100 | 2.188 | 109 | 2.240 | 96 | 2.086 | 99 | 2.238 | ||
 Saudi Arabia |
101 | 2.192 | 107 | 2.216 | 104 | 2.167 | 108 | 2.357 | 90 | 2.246 |
 El Salvador |
102 | 2.215 | 103 | 2.195 | 94 | 2.068 | 89 | 2.163 | 89 | 2.244 |
 Tajikistan |
103 | 2.225 | ||||||||
 Eritrea |
104 | 2.227 | ||||||||
 Madagascar |
105 | 2.239 | 77 | 2.019 | 72 | 1.912 | 43 | 1.770 | 41 | 1.766 |
 Jamaica |
106 | 2.244 | 98 | 2.138 | 102 | 2.111 | 96 | 2.226 | 81 | 2.164 |
 Thailand |
107 | 2.247 | 124 | 2.393 | 118 | 2.353 | 118 | 2.424 | 105 | 2.491 |
 Turkmenistan |
108 | 2.248 | 117 | 2.295 | 101 | 2.110 | 102 | 2.302 | ||
 Armenia |
109 | 2.260 | 113 | 2.266 | ||||||
 Uzbekistan |
109 | 2.260 | 110 | 2.242 | 106 | 2.202 | 111 | 2.377 | 110 | 2.542 |
 Kenya |
111 | 2.276 | 120 | 2.369 | 113 | 2.266 | 119 | 2.429 | 91 | 2.258 |
 Belarus |
112 | 2.283 | 105 | 2.204 | 98 | 2.103 | 94 | 2.194 | ||
 Haiti |
113 | 2.288 | 114 | 2.270 | 116 | 2.330 | 109 | 2.362 | ||
 Kyrgyzstan |
114 | 2.296 | ||||||||
 Cambodia |
115 | 2.301 | 111 | 2.252 | 105 | 2.179 | 91 | 2.179 | 85 | 2.197 |
 Syria |
116 | 2.322 | 115 | 2.274 | 92 | 2.049 | 75 | 2.027 | 77 | 2.106 |
 Honduras |
117 | 2.327 | 125 | 2.395 | 112 | 2.265 | 104 | 2.335 | 98 | 2.390 |
 South Africa |
118 | 2.353 | 121 | 2.380 | 123 | 2.437 | 116 | 2.412 | 99 | 2.399 |
 Iran |
119 | 2.356 | 104 | 2.202 | 99 | 2.104 | 105 | 2.341 | 97 | 2.320 |
 Niger |
119 | 2.356 | ||||||||
 Mexico |
121 | 2.362 | 107 | 2.216 | 108 | 2.209 | 93 | 2.191 | 79 | 2.125 |
 Azerbaijan |
122 | 2.379 | 119 | 2.367 | 114 | 2.327 | 101 | 2.287 | 101 | 2.448 |
 Bahrain |
123 | 2.398 | 70 | 1.956 | 69 | 1.881 | 74 | 2.025 | 62 | 1.995 |
 Venezuela |
124 | 2.403 | 122 | 2.387 | 120 | 2.381 | 123 | 2.505 | 102 | 2.453 |
 Guatemala |
125 | 2.405 | 112 | 2.258 | 111 | 2.218 | 103 | 2.328 | 93 | 2.285 |
 Sri Lanka |
126 | 2.407 | 133 | 2.621 | 125 | 2.485 | 125 | 2.584 | 111 | 2.575 |
 Turkey |
127 | 2.411 | 126 | 2.420 | 121 | 2.389 | 115 | 2.403 | 92 | 2.272 |
 Côte d'Ivoire |
128 | 2.417 | 118 | 2.297 | 117 | 2.342 | 122 | 2.451 | 113 | 2.638 |
 Algeria |
129 | 2.423 | 116 | 2.277 | 110 | 2.212 | 112 | 2.378 | 107 | 2.503 |
 Mauritania |
130 | 2.425 | 123 | 2.389 | 124 | 2.478 | 120 | 2.435 | ||
 Ethiopia |
131 | 2.468 | 127 | 2.444 | 128 | 2.551 | 121 | 2.439 | 103 | 2.479 |
 Burundi |
132 | 2.532 | 131 | 2.577 | ||||||
 Myanmar |
133 | 2.538 | 132 | 2.580 | 126 | 2.501 | 126 | 2.590 | 108 | 2.524 |
 Georgia (country) |
134 | 2.558 | 142 | 2.970 | ||||||
 India |
135 | 2.570 | 128 | 2.516 | 122 | 2.433 | 107 | 2.355 | 109 | 2.530 |
 Philippines |
136 | 2.574 | 130 | 2.574 | 114 | 2.327 | 113 | 2.385 | 100 | 2.428 |
 Lebanon |
137 | 2.597 | 134 | 2.639 | 132 | 2.718 | 132 | 2.840 | 114 | 2.662 |
 Yemen |
138 | 2.670 | 129 | 2.573 | 119 | 2.363 | 106 | 2.352 | 95 | 2.309 |
 Colombia |
139 | 2.700 | 138 | 2.787 | 130 | 2.645 | 130 | 2.757 | 116 | 2.770 |
 Zimbabwe |
140 | 2.722 | 135 | 2.678 | 134 | 2.736 | 124 | 2.513 | 106 | 2.495 |
 Chad |
141 | 2.740 | 141 | 2.964 | 138 | 2.880 | 135 | 3.007 | ||
 Nigeria |
142 | 2.743 | 137 | 2.756 | 129 | 2.602 | 129 | 2.724 | 117 | 2.898 |
 Libya |
143 | 2.816 | 56 | 1.839 | 46 | 1.710 | 61 | 1.927 | 58 | 1.967 |
 Central African Republic |
144 | 2.869 | 136 | 2.753 | 133 | 2.733 | 134 | 2.857 | ||
 Israel |
145 | 2.901 | 144 | 3.019 | 141 | 3.035 | 136 | 3.052 | 119 | 3.033 |
 Pakistan |
146 | 2.905 | 145 | 3.050 | 137 | 2.859 | 127 | 2.694 | 115 | 2.697 |
 Russia |
147 | 2.966 | 143 | 3.013 | 136 | 2.750 | 131 | 2.777 | 118 | 2.903 |
 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
148 | 3.016 | 140 | 2.925 | 139 | 2.888 | 128 | 2.707 | ||
 North Korea |
149 | 3.092 | 139 | 2.855 | 131 | 2.717 | 133 | 2.850 | ||
 Afghanistan |
150 | 3.212 | 147 | 3.252 | 143 | 3.285 | 137 | 3.126 | ||
 Sudan |
151 | 3.223 | 146 | 3.125 | 140 | 2.922 | 138 | 3.189 | 120 | 3.182 |
 Iraq |
152 | 3.296 | 149 | 3.406 | 144 | 3.341 | 140 | 3.514 | 121 | 3.437 |
 Somalia |
153 | 3.379 | 148 | 3.390 | 142 | 3.257 | 139 | 3.293 | ||
- Note: There have been changes to the methodology for the 2010 data.