The 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) reveals that the world has become less peaceful for the 13th time in the past 17 years, with the average level of global peacefulness declining by 0.36% over the last year. This marks the sixth consecutive year of deteriorating global peace.

Although global attention has largely centred on the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, the conflict remains widespread. 78 countries saw a decline in peacefulness between the 2024 and 2025 editions of the GPI.

A key contributor to this trend was a rise in external conflicts, with 46 countries experiencing more such conflicts than in the previous year.

The Militarization domain also worsened, with 86 countries recording deteriorations. Notably, global military spending rose, with average military expenditure as a percentage of GDP reaching its highest level since 2010, increasing by 2.5% over the past year.

This marks a reversal from a decade-long trend of decreasing militarization, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and escalating conflicts.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remains the least peaceful in the world for the tenth straight year, recording a slight decline in peacefulness of 0.17%. Four of the ten least peaceful countries globally are located in this region.

Sudan ranks as the least peaceful country in MENA and the third least peaceful globally, following a 0.54% decline in its peace score. This deterioration was largely due to worsening conditions in indicators such as nuclear and heavy weapons, displaced populations, and internal conflicts.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is ranked number 8 least peaceful country while the average peacefulness also declined by 0.17% over the past year. While half of the countries in the region showed improvements, the other half experienced setbacks. The region is home to three of the world?s ten least peaceful countries, showing persistent challenges to stability.

Below are the 10 least peaceful African countries in 2025, according to latest ranking:

Rank Country Score Global rank

1 Sudan 3.323 161st

2 Democratic Republic of the Congo 3.292 160th

3 South Sudan 3.117 156th

4 Mali 3.061 154th

5 Burkina Faso 3.016 152nd

6 Somalia 2.983 151st

7 Central African Republic 2.912 150th

8 Nigeria 2.869 148th

9 Niger 2.759 143rd

10 Ethiopia 2.688 138th

(Adapted from a report by Business Insider Africa)

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