Russia has once again been named the least peace-loving country in the world
The Russian Federation ranked last, in 163rd place, in the 2026 Global Peace Index annual report, earning the distinction of being the least peaceful country on the planet. At the same time, Ukraine made it into the top 5 countries with the most significant annual progress, despite the fact that, due to ongoing aggression and the consequences of full-scale conflict, it still remains near the bottom of the overall table.
Along with Russia, which has fallen to the very bottom of the ranking, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Israel were identified as the least peaceful. According to analysts’ findings, the overall level of peacefulness on the planet has continued to steadily decline for the twelfth consecutive year. The main drivers of this negative trend are the escalation of armed conflicts worldwide, global geopolitical tensions, and the crisis of existing instruments of international diplomacy.
Ukraine currently ranks 160th, but analysts at the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) have noted a rapid positive trend. At the same time, the country remains among the least peaceful nations in the world due to ongoing Russian aggression and high indicators related to armed conflict.
Iceland has held the traditional title of the world’s most peaceful country for the nineteenth consecutive year. Rounding out the top five are New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Ireland. Poland showed the biggest jump in the entire ranking, rising to 22nd place thanks to improvements in domestic security factors.
experts have recorded a sharp decline in Russia’s indices over many years against the backdrop of its foreign policy course and internal repression; however, it was the protracted war of aggression against Ukraine that ultimately brought its scores down. The aggressor received the worst scores on criteria such as the level of militarization, the presence and threat of nuclear and heavy weapons, the number of deaths in external conflicts, and the total deterioration of relations with neighboring states. The international analytical community notes that the Kremlin is currently perceived by the world not merely as a participant in a local war, but as the primary source of long-term and unpredictable global instability.
The relevant data was released by the international Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP).
According to the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI), Russia was also recognized as the least peaceful country on the planet, ranking last, at 163rd place. Ukraine, due to the ongoing full-scale war and its consequences, found itself in second-to-last place.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump topped the ranking of world leaders whom Ukrainians trust the least.
