Afghanistan Ranks Among Lowest Countries in Positive Peace Index 2026

KABUL: Afghanistan has been ranked 157th out of 163 countries in the 2026 Positive Peace Index released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, placing it among the lowest-ranked countries globally.

According to the index, Afghanistan recorded a score of 4.19 and ranked as the seventh-lowest country among the 163 states assessed.

The report also found that Afghanistan was the only South Asian country to experience deterioration in its Positive Peace Index performance between 2015 and 2024. Its score worsened by about 3.3 percent over the period.

The Institute for Economics and Peace links positive peace to factors including effective governance, social stability, economic conditions, political freedom and the flow of information.

The report said Afghanistan’s deterioration was particularly associated with worsening indicators related to political freedom and the free flow of information.

The findings highlight continuing challenges facing Afghanistan in areas related to governance, social stability and freedoms under the current political order.