Global Peace Hits Historic Low as Conflicts and AI Warfare Surge

The world has become markedly less peaceful over the last year, according to the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI). Released on June 9, 2026, by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), the report paints a stark picture: peacefulness is now at its lowest ebb in the index's 20-year history . This decline is driven by a confluence of factors, including a record number of active conflicts, the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into warfare, and a spiraling economic cost of violence.

Unprecedented Global Decline in Peacefulness

The scale of the deterioration is historic. The 2026 GPI found that 99 countries experienced a decline in peacefulness over the past year, the highest number recorded since the index's inception and the steepest single-year slide in two decades . This marks the 12th consecutive year that global peacefulness has worsened . Overall, 119 countries—or 73% of all nations tracked—are now less peaceful than they were when the GPI was first published in 2007 .

Conflicts Reach Post-WWII Highs

The report confirms a dramatic escalation in global conflict. The number of state-based conflicts has surged to its highest level since the Second World War, with 61 countries now involved in such conflicts . Furthermore, the number of countries fighting in conflicts beyond their own borders has nearly doubled, with both the number of active conflicts and external engagements reaching historic postwar highs .

The Rise of AI and Drone Warfare

A defining feature of this era of conflict is the accelerating role of technology. Drone attacks have surged an astonishing 11,500% over the past seven years, a figure that underscores the transformation of modern battlefields . More significantly, artificial intelligence systems are now being deployed to make life-and-death targeting decisions in seconds, a fundamental shift that raises profound ethical and strategic questions about the future of war .

The Economic Toll: A $21.81 Trillion Blow

The economic cost of failing to maintain peace is higher than ever. The global economic impact of violence reached a record $21.81 trillion in 2025, a sum equivalent to roughly 13% of global GDP . This immense figure reflects not only direct military spending but the broader economic consequences of conflict, including lost productivity, displacement, and long-term instability.

Major Shifts in Country Rankings

Amid the global turmoil, some nations remain havens of stability. Iceland has maintained its position as the world's most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year . The top five most peaceful countries in the 2026 index are Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland .

The bottom of the index is dominated by active conflict zones. For the 2026 report, the least peaceful countries include Russia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, and Israel . Russia, for the first time, is ranked as the very least peaceful country, a direct consequence of its ongoing war in Ukraine . Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, and Afghanistan also remain entrenched at the bottom of the rankings, with their positions fluctuating as conflicts intensify or de-escalate .