For the ninth year in a row, Qatar has been ranked as the most peaceful country in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region in the Global Peace Index. Also, with a GPI score of 1.664, the country is placed 30th globally out of 163 countries, an improvement over last year.
According to the report, Qatar has maintained its high score owing to factors such as a low crime rate, low murder rate, low prison numbers, stable political conditions and a society free of terrorism, good international relations and nonappearance of internal or external threats or conflicts.
The report, issued by the Institute for Economics and Peace in collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney, lists Qatar as the only country in the Mena region among the 50 most secure countries in the world. “This reflects Qatar’s global security status, which is consistent with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Ministry of Interior’s strategy to enhance security at the State level,” the MoI has said in a statement.
Qatar has maintained its “top ranking in the Mena region since 2009 and been ranked best internationally in the same period by achieving high rates across during the evaluation, outshining many developed countries”, the statement points out.
The GPI is based on a set of criteria that comprise several aspects, including the internal and external affairs of countries such as political stability, extent of crime in society, level of respect for human rights, terrorist crimes on the territory of the State, the extent of participation in support of peacekeeping forces, military capabilities of the State, spread of corruption and the available space for freedom of information and participation of women in public life and political life, the extent of healthcare provided to the people, and education opportunities, etc.
Countries are ranked on a scale of 1-5 degrees, with the most stable country being 1 and the least stable 5. The Global Peace Index is an attempt to measure the relative peace status of countries and regions. It is produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace in consultation with an international team of peace experts, institutes and research centres in collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney.
Qatar’s high ranking in the report for the last nine years further “confirms its superiority” that has already been highlighted by different international reports and indicators during this period. Most notable of these are the index of the safest and most peaceful countries in the world – which placed Qatar second globally and first among Arab countries, the Global Competitiveness Index - 18th globally and second among Arab countries, and the Arab Economic Competitiveness Index - first among Arab countries.
In 2017, Qatar has scored 99.1% in applying the guidelines of annex 17 on Safeguarding International Civil Aviation against Acts of Unlawful Interference. It has also scored 96.76% in implementing safety management and a 100% in annex nine on facilitation. In addition, Qatar has been ranked first in the Arab world and 33rd globally in the Human Development Report 2016 of the United Nations Development Programme.