The world’s expensive slide into violence and unrest continued last year, with conflict, terrorism and political instability costing the global economy $13.6tn, the Guardian quoted an annual report of the global peace index as saying.

The 2016 index, which analyzed 163 countries and territories, rates Syria the least peaceful country, followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. The world’s most peaceful countries are Iceland, Denmark, Austria, New Zealand and Portugal.

While levels of peace improved in 81 countries, the gains were undermined by larger deteriorations in another 79, meaning that peace declined at a faster rate than in the previous year. Among the greatest destabilizing factors were terrorism, political turmoil, and the intensification and persistence of wars in Syria, Ukraine, Central African Republic and Libya.

The Middle East and North Africa (Mena) is once again the least peaceful region. Three of the five biggest declines in peace occurred in the region – Yemen, Libya and Bahrain – and violence and conflict in Mena are so fierce that, when considered separately, peace in the rest of the world improved.

The sums lost through conflict are huge. The IEP said the $13.6tn cost of violence last year represented 13.3% of gross world product – or $1,876 per person – and was equivalent to 11 times the amount spent on foreign direct investment.

First published in 2008, the GPI ranks nations by gauging peace according to safety and security in society, levels of domestic and international conflict, and militarization.

Source : MENA