The global peace index in the 10th annual edition ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness.

The GPI states “The 2016 Global Peace Index overall score deteriorated slightly compared with 2015, and at a faster rate than the previous year. Once again, the Middle East and North Africa was the region that saw its levels of peace deteriorate the most.”

When it comes to the situation in the Central America and the Caribbean, the report establishes “Despite the regions myriad security-related issues, the average score in Central America and the Caribbean improved sufficiently for it to overtake South America in the regional rankings and to position itself slightly above the global average in 2016, scoring fourth place overall”, and continues “Central America and the Caribbean will continue to benefit from the absence of intraregional conflicts, and minimal nuclear and heavy weapons capabilities among them, although domestic security issues- mainly in the form of crime will remain the region’s biggest obstacle to peace”.

Costa Rica ranked number 1 in the regional table, followed by Panama. However, in the overall global table Costa Rica is in position 33 and Panama ranks 49, Panama has the largest score improvement rising 24 positions, this is caused by a reduction in the “likelihood of violent demonstrations and political instability as well as an improved performance on the Political Terror Scale”

Costa Rica is also shown among the ten countries (in position 5) with the highest per capita illicit financial flows, the country in first position is Bahamas, and Equatorial Guinea is second.

The most peaceful country in the world is Iceland, followed by Denmark, Austria, New Zealand, Portugal, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Canada, Japan and Slovenia.

The most peaceful countries in terms of ongoing domestic and international conflict are: Botswana, Switzerland, Chile, Mauritius and Uruguay. Costa Rica also scored well in this category, although it didn’t make the top ten.

Unites States is in position 103 of the overall rank.

The least peaceful country is Syria.

Among the countries with the most internal conflict deaths in 2016 (excluding Syria) we can find Mexico and Iraq.

The GPI also emphasizes that “The world has become less peaceful over the last decade, with a deterioration of 2.44% in the average country GPI score” with the most deterioration concentrated in four areas: Middle East and North Africa, northern sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and the countries dividing Russia from Europe, particularly Ukraine.

Another interesting fact is the global economic impact of violence which according to the GPI is of $13.6 trillion USD which is equivalent to 13.3% of the world GDP and equivalent to $5 per person globally per day.