The 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI), released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), paints a grim picture of global stability. For the first time, the world faces a record number of interconnected conflicts, exacerbated by a rapid technological revolution in warfare that outpaces international law and diplomacy.
Key Findings of the 2026 GPI
According to the report, 99 countries experienced a decline in peacefulness over the past year, the highest number in the index's 20-year history. Additionally, 119 nations—73% of those assessed—are now less peaceful than when the GPI was first published in 2007.
The number of countries involved in external conflicts has nearly doubled, from 59 in 2008 to 103 in 2026. Meanwhile, the global economic impact of violence rose by 3.2% to US$21.81 trillion in 2025, equivalent to 10.5% of global GDP.
AI and Drone Warfare
Drone attacks surged by over 11,500% between 2018 and 2025, while artificial intelligence has compressed targeting times from one day to mere seconds. For the first time in history, machines are making life-and-death combat decisions faster than humans can review them, with minimal international governance.
Conflict Deaths and Military Spending
Deaths from global conflicts remain at historic highs, with over 181,000 killed in 2025—a six-fold increase since 2008. Global military expenditure reached a record US$2.9 trillion in 2025, led by Europe. Excluding the US, military spending increased by 9.2%.
The Great Fragmentation
The report highlights a structural shift termed the “Great Fragmentation,” where rising middle powers fill the vacuum left by declining traditional great powers. Since 1995, Germany’s share of global GDP fell by 49%, France’s by 44%, and Italy’s by 42%. Multilateral institutions are weakened, and peace agreements have plummeted from 23% in the 1970s to just 4% in the last decade. Investment in proactive peacebuilding stands at a mere 0.52% of total military spending.
Successful diplomacy to prevent war in Iran from restarting could be worth approximately US$2.2 trillion to the global economy, the report notes.
