Singapore and Malaysia have excelled as the most peaceful countries in Southeast Asia, according to the 2024 Global Peace Index. Globally, Singapore ranks 5th with a score of 1.339, followed by Malaysia at 10th with a score of 1.427.
The 2024 Global Peace Index report was released recently by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), an international think tank. This report covers 163 independent countries and territories, encompassing nearly 99.7% of the world's population.
The assessment is based on 23 indicators categorized into three main criteria: societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization. Since its inception in 2008, the Global Peace Index has become a crucial benchmark for analyzing the global peace situation.
Singapore's excellence in peace reflects its strong commitment to public security, political stability, and harmonious multicultural coexistence. Its governance model and law enforcement serve as an example for other countries striving for peace in dynamic urban environments.
Malaysia has shown remarkable progress, jumping from 19th to 10th place within a year. This demonstrates the country's dedication to enhancing safety and security, mitigating conflicts, and maintaining a balance in militarization. Malaysia's achievement serves as an inspiration that peace is not a static goal but a continuous process of improvement.
Iceland tops the list, followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Singapore. Meanwhile, Yemen is the least peaceful country in the world according to the 2024 Global Peace Index, followed by Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.
On the other hand, Myanmar is the least peaceful country in the region. Despite the high level of conflict, Myanmar has shown a glimmer of hope with significant improvements in peace over the past year. This makes Myanmar the country with the most significant progress in the peace index in the region.
The most notable improvement occurred in the Safety and Security domain, with better indicators for homicide rates and perceptions of criminality. The homicide rate, which spiked in 2021 due to the military coup (over 28 per 100,000 people), has now returned to pre-coup levels.
The sense of safety among the population has also improved, with the proportion of people feeling unsafe walking alone in their city or neighborhood dropping from 67% to more than half.
Despite the improvements in Safety and Security, Myanmar's level of Ongoing Conflict remains high, with over 3,000 deaths due to internal conflicts recorded in 2023.
