Ghana ranked 40th most peaceful

The Global Peace Index has ranked Ghana the 40th most peaceful country in the world.

On top of the list is Norway while Iraq lies at the bottom as the 121st least peaceful in the world. Nigeria struggles as the least peaceful in Africa at the 117th position.

New Zealand ranks second and Denmark third on the list. Ireland occupied the fourth position, followed by Japan, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Portugal and Austria in that order forming the top ten.

While most European countries are more peaceful, half of the league table, the US is nearer the bottom in 96th place, while Russia is fourth from last on 118th.

The Global Peace Index, published a week before a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Germany, rates 121 countries from Algeria to Zimbabwe on 24 factors/indicators including levels of violence, organised crime and military expenditure.

Ghana is ranked the second most peaceful in Africa after Tunisia.

A close look at the details of Ghana's peace indicators and drivers show that the potential for terrorist acts, level of violent crime and number of jailed population per 100,000 people is very low. However, corruption perceptions, ease of access to weapons of minor destruction and likelihood of violent demonstrations are relatively high.

The statistics show that unemployment in Ghana is listed as 8%. Spending on education is as low as 4% and GDP per capita marked as $409, which is lower than the government's figure.

The index is backed by international figures including the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former US president Jimmy Carter and US economist Joseph Stiglitz, all winners of the Nobel peace prize. It is also supported by Queen Noor of Jordan.

Overall the study found that small, stable countries which are part of regional blocs such as the 27-nation European Union are most likely to be more peaceful.

Income and education are crucial in promoting peace, it said.

View ranking details >>

Source: GPI Website