Afghanistan has been ranked 158th out of 163 countries in the 2025 Global Peace Index, underscoring the country’s deepening instability and chronic governance failures. Despite a nominal reduction in active conflict since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, Afghanistan remains one of the world’s least peaceful nations, plagued by political chaos, weak institutions, and ongoing humanitarian crises. Produced annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the Global Peace Index assesses nations based on internal security, levels of conflict, access to small arms, political stability, and military expenditure. Afghanistan’s ranking, although slightly improved from 160th last year, highlights persistent insecurity, systemic governance deficiencies, and a collapsing social framework.
The report describes Afghanistan as the fifth least peaceful country globally, and the only South Asian nation to score the lowest possible marks in violent crime, access to small arms, political terror, refugee and internally displaced populations, and military expenditure. These indicators reflect the Taliban’s inability to establish functional governance, maintain law and order, or protect civilians from extremist violence.
Following Afghanistan, other countries with extreme insecurity include Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Ukraine, with Russia appearing for the first time among the least peaceful nations. In contrast, countries such as Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland continue to enjoy stability and strong institutional governance.
The report notes 59 active state-level conflicts globally, the highest number since the end of World War II, highlighting the escalating trend of global instability. Regionally, Western and Central Europe remain secure, while the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, particularly Afghanistan, face profound insecurity.
Analysts point to Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian disaster, including mass displacement, food insecurity, and chronic poverty, as a direct consequence of the Taliban’s mismanagement. The country’s inability to establish a functioning economy or a secure environment has made it a persistent source of regional instability, with implications for neighboring countries and the broader South Asian region.
The Global Peace Index ranking underscores that Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s claims of control, remains a failed state, where lawlessness, political repression, and socio-economic collapse continue to dominate daily life. International observers warn that without urgent intervention, Afghanistan’s trajectory will continue to threaten not only its own population but also regional security and stability.
